T20 World Cup, India v England warm-up match as it happened: Rahul, Ishan shine in good win
Follow live coverage of Virat Kohli and Co’s first warmup match ahead of the marquee event in UAE and Oman.

T20 World Cup: Rahul, Rohit, Virat, Ishan – who should open for India?
Follow Scroll.in’s full coverage of the T20 World Cup here.
Impressive batting performance 👌
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 18, 2021
Fine bowling display 👍#TeamIndia beat England & win their first warm-up game. 👏 👏#INDvENG #T20WorldCup
📸: Getty Images pic.twitter.com/jIBgYFqOjz
Asked to bat first, England finished with 188/5. India scored 192/4 in 19 overs. India’s next warmup outing is against Australia, while England face New Zealand.
mentored by their greatest ever white ball keeper, india warm up with a win courtesy sparkling knocks from their three keeping options #T20WorldCup
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) October 18, 2021
A keeper-batter from Jharkhand going big. Another keeper finishing it off with a six. Happy debut for Mentor Singh Dhoni! 🇮🇳
— Rajasthan Royals (@rajasthanroyals) October 18, 2021
India win with an over to spare: Rishabh Pant finishes it off in style! Superb hit over square leg. Virat Kohli, seated next to mentor MS Dhoni in the dressing room, applauds a fine cameo. A good run chase.
18.5: Now a front-foot no ball from Jordan. Yikes, that’s a poor over. Pant on strike with 3 off 7 balls.
18.1: Powerfully put away through cover by Hardik for four.
18.4: After farming the strike to get into some hitting form, Jordan bowls a no ball for four (wide) and then the free hit is a streaky outside edge for four by Hardik.
A thrilling win for Australia in their practice match.
Australia need 8 runs from 3 balls and Josh Inglis came into bat - 4 followed by 4 - won the game for Australia against New Zealand.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 18, 2021
Jordan to bowl the 19th.
India 169/4 after 18: After misreading a couple of slower balls, Hardik retains strike with a single. 20 off 12 needed.
WICKET! Four and out. Suryakumar Yadav is out for 8, trying to play a ramp shot. Played a nice scoop before this, but one cheeky shot too many. Hardik Pandya joins Rishabh Pant in the middle now.
India need 21 off 15.
Nothing but good vibes & smiles in Dubai.❤😁 #MissionMaroon #T20WorldCup #WestIndies pic.twitter.com/6LoEMAifa1
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) October 18, 2021
26 needed off 18 balls.
India 163/2 after 18 overs: Pant makes it a par over with a pull shot for four off Woakes who otherwise restricted India to just singles.
A roaring start for Sri Lanka in their #T20WorldCup 2021 campaign 🔥#SLvNAM | https://t.co/0Th6K2IchA pic.twitter.com/5IvVk9vsUX
— ICC (@ICC) October 18, 2021
India 154/2 after 16 overs: Decent over from Jordan that, keeps things interesting. SKY and Pant in the middle now, need 35 off 24 balls.
hang this in the louvre pic.twitter.com/2GtdMDCWEP
— A (@kyaaboltitu) October 18, 2021
Ishan Kishan is dropped in the deep but India recall him anyway for 70 off 46 balls. Liam Livingstone is in pain though, seems to have injured his fingers and these are worrying scenes for England.
Sri Lanka recover from a poor start to win by 7 wickets
Brief recovery with the new ball, but that's a chastening defeat for Namibia. Again, not out of things - and plenty to be positive about given that new ball performance - but no getting away from that being a proper shellacking. #T20WorldCup
— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) October 18, 2021
India 148/2 after 15 overs: India need 41 off 30 balls with two pocket dynamites in the middle at the moment. Can Ishan and Pant finish this off for India?
India 140/2 after 14 overs: TWO HUGE SIXES! The first, Pant loses half his grip, there is a shout for catch but it sails over extra cover. Next, brutal! Out of the ground, straight down the pitch. Costly over from Moeen Ali.
One-handed Rishabh Pant six. This warm-up match has peaked, pack everything and go home. #T20WorldCup
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) October 18, 2021
Just to see what the TL thinks...
— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) October 18, 2021
Who should ideally open the batting for India in this #T20WorldCup?
There's only one right answer really#CricketTwitter
WICKET! That’s another below par innings from Virat Kohli in the middle overs. Just never got going. Out to the part-time leg spin of Liam Livingstone, caught at point going for a big shot against the turn. A 13-ball 11. India 125/2 after 12.4 overs.
HALF CENTURY! A 36-ball 52* for Ishan Kishan and he gets there with two superb sixes off Adil Rashid. Putting on a show at the moment, with 24 runs coming in that over. Two fours after the half century.
IND 99/1 after 11 overs: This is a bit too typical from Kohli in the middle overs. He really can be better than this, batting on 9 off 9 at the moment. Livingstone’s over goes for just seven despite a boundary from Ishan.
'Picking up' from where he left 👌🏻👏🏻 #INDvENG #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/dujoAqLVCY
— Wasim Jaffer (@WasimJaffer14) October 18, 2021
Meanwhile in Abu Dhabi, Sri Lanka have recovered and now zooming towards the target. 64/3 after 9.2
IND 92/1 after 10 overs: Rather risk free 7-run over from Rashid. India placed well at the 10-over mark, Rahul’s innings has given Kohli the chance to play the way he is comfortable. He can use a good run-chase to get back into groove.
IND 85/1 after 9 overs: A good over from Wood, as Kohli looks to get his eye in. This would the time for Ishan to go hard.
5⃣1⃣ Runs
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 18, 2021
2⃣4⃣ Balls
6⃣ Fours
3⃣ Sixes
What a knock @klrahul11 has played! 👏 👏#TeamIndia #INDvENG #T20WorldCup
📸: Getty Images pic.twitter.com/zSyFyWeh59
KL Rahul in last 66 balls - 149 runs (98* vs CSK & 51 vs England).
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 18, 2021
Kohli himself has said he will bat at No 3 at the World Cup. That KL innings didn't end the discussion.
— Venkata Krishna B (@venkatatweets) October 18, 2021
Fifty and out. 24-ball 51 for KL Rahul... an innings that had pretty much been an highlight reel throughout till he mistimed a lofted cover drive and got caught. India 82/1 after 8.2 overs.
IND 78/0 after 8 overs: Adil Rashid comes on and puts the brakes on.
Meanwhile... #SriLanka 37/3 after powerplay, chasing 97 against #Namibia. #T20WorldCup
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) October 18, 2021
IND 73/0 after 7 overs: Another huge over for India, as KL Rahul pounces on a short ball from Moeen to slam one over square leg for six. Moves on to 45 off 19. Carnage. Another four in that over too.
Think we won't see a better shot than that KL six all year..
— Harisankar (@harish_staycalm) October 18, 2021
IND 59/0 after 6 overs: This is not part of the tournament but we are going to call that the shot of the tournament, Magical from KLR! Down the ground, out of the ground as Jordan puts one in his arc. Good powerplay for India.
Out of the ground. KL Rahul with some jaw-droppers. #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/2fVkNOtDjk
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) October 18, 2021
Meanwhile in the official match, Sri Lanka are 23/2 chasing 97 against Namibia. In the warm-up, David Warner was out for a first-ball duck as Australia chase 159 against NZ. Now 49/2 after 6.
When you are out of form these things just seem to happen... an absolute stunner from Guptill to dismiss Warner for a first ball duck.#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/0Zo80tF9ic
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) October 18, 2021
IND 49/0 after 5 overs: Some striking by Ishan too in that over! A brilliant six over square leg and then pulled for four as Wood digs in short. He was struggling to get going, but goes from 8(14) to 23 (19) in that over
Oh, KLR... more of this please! #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/xrtEuRgz2N
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) October 18, 2021
IND 33/0 after 4 overs: KL Rahul with some jaw-dropping strokeplay in that Chris Woakes over! He starts with a short-arm pull for four, then comes a thumping on-the-rise drive over mid-off for four, then comes the best of the lot – a sensational, nonchalant whip over square-leg for six, and finally another classy flick for four. Wow! Just the kind of over India needed.
Light-hearted conversations be like 😊 #TeamIndia #INDvENG #T20WorldCup
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 18, 2021
📸: Getty Images pic.twitter.com/m3cFu2KPOs
IND 15/0 after 3 overs: A couple of close calls for Kishan in that Willey over. The left-hander hit two aerial shots – first to mid-on and then to deep square-leg – and both times the ball fell inches short of the fielder. Good over for England, just two singles from it.
IND 13/0 after 2 overs: Shot! Woakes bowls it short and wide, Kishan stands tall and plays a blazing square-cut for four. That would’ve given him confidence after a couple of plays-and-misses earlier in the over.
When you are out of form these things just seem to happen... an absolute stunner from Guptill to dismiss Warner for a first ball duck.#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/0Zo80tF9ic
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) October 18, 2021
IND 8/0 after 1 over: Willey opens the bowling for England and Rahul gets going with a whip behind square on the leg side for four. Woakes to start proceedings from the other end.
9.22 pm: The Indian innings is underway and the opening batters are Ishan Kishan and KL Rahul. Target: 189 runs.
INNINGS BREAK!
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 18, 2021
3⃣ wickets for @MdShami11
1⃣ wicket each for @Jaspritbumrah93 & @rdchahar1
England post 188/5 on the board.
The #TeamIndia chase to begin shortly. #INDvENG #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/4KxWEvDZxu
England 188/5 (20): 2-2-4-6-6! Bhuvneshwar Kumar did not have the best of nights and it gets only worse in the final over. Moeen Ali (43* off 20) goes big and England finish with a superb 21-run over. Bhuvi finishes with 0/54 in his four overs. Hasn’t done his case much good if there was a toss-up for the second seamer spot.
Can Bhuvi finish well?
England 167/5 after 19 overs: What a terrific over from Bumrah. Only an in-form batter like Moeen Ali could keep out a couple of yorkers as he did.
Jasprit TOE-CRUSHER Bumrah is at it again! 😎
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) October 18, 2021
He gets the better of Bairstow with an unplayable yorker 🔥💙
🏴: 163/5 (18.2)#OneFamily #INDvENG #T20WorldCup https://t.co/pSMCFXxjFU
WICKET! Just a trademark Bumrah yorker to remove Bairstow on 49! Terrific delivery, zoning on that back leg of Bairstow like a heat-seeking missile.
Ripper from Bumrah. pic.twitter.com/BbUfNBtVRO
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 18, 2021
That was casually 🔥🔥🔥 from Bumrah to Bairstow. #T20WorldCup
— Vinayakk (@vinayakkm) October 18, 2021
England 161/4 after 18 overs: A terrific straight drive, followed by a terrific cover drive as Moeen plays two of the shots of the night. 12 runs from that over.
Three big wickets for Shami on the night but he also finishes with a couple of expensive overs. 3/40 from his four.
That off drive from Moeen just made me make a bit weak at the knees
— Peter Miller (@TheCricketGeek) October 18, 2021
Shami will finish his spell
England 149/4 after 17 overs: Dale Steyn on commentary is backing Bhuvi to come good, if he just has one good match. Not the best of overs this again, missing his lengths. Gifts a length ball to Moeen and wide too, put away for four. 33 from 3 for Bhuvi now.
Bhuvi back, after an expensive couple of overs.
Been a bad game for R Chahar. Went for 43 runs and also got the wicket of Malan.
— Manya (@CSKian716) October 18, 2021
England 137/4 after 16 overs: A good comeback from Bumrah after Bairstow hit a superb shot past point for four off a near yorker. Finishes the over with a couple of dot balls.
Bumrah to bowl the 16th... not the 18th and 20th.
WICKET! BULLET from Shami! His third wicket of the night. A superb yorker to breach Livingstone’s defence. Hit the pad and went on to hit the stumps. A solid partnership is broken. It was an expensive over, as Bairstow smashed a six down the ground, but Shami comes back well. England 129/4 after 14.5.
England 118/3 after 14 overs: A big six for Livingstone to start the over and couple more fours as well. A no ball too but free hit doesn’t cost much. Rahul Chahar finishes with 1/43 in his 4 overs. Went for quite a few boundaries with Livingstone especially severe on him.
A rare sight: Kohli lets a ball go to the boundary without giving his '120%'.
— Alagappan Vijayakumar (@IndianMourinho) October 18, 2021
England 101/3 after 13 overs: Solid comeback! Ashwin finishes with 0/23 off his four overs on return to white ball action for the Indian team. Bowled with good control, created a few half chances. One off the last ball he bowled too, beating Bairstow with a straighter one. Pant was convinced he got the stumping done but it was not given. No third umpire.
Would Ashwin be in #India’s first XI?
England 93/3 after 12 overs: The over could have started with the wicket of Livingstone for Chahar as he completely mishit a lofted shot that landed safely, but it ends up being a costly one for India. Two boundaries after that.
England 81/3 after 11 overs: Another really tight over from Ashwin, just two singles. Almost had Bairstow lobbing one back to him. The finger-wrist combo is working well for India in the last few overs.
1⃣0⃣ overs gone
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 18, 2021
7⃣9⃣-3⃣
2⃣1⃣*⃣ @jbairstow21
🏴 #ENGvIND 🇮🇳 #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/C0Hycp5PF3
England 79/3 after 10 overs: Good over from Chahar as the big-hitting Livingstone comes to the middle. Kohli puts a slip in straight away.
WICKET! Rahul Chahar strikes in his second over. Dawid Malan is bowled by one that goes with the angle as he tried to loft one over cover. Smart bowling. England 77/3 (9.2)
Rahul Chahar deceives David Malan with a Wrong 'un! 🌪️😎#OneFamily #INDvENG #T20WorldCup
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) October 18, 2021
England 76/2 after 9* overs: Good over from Ashwin, a two and three singles. This is the control he offers (even his wicket-taking form has been poor in the IPL second leg).
R Ashwin has just bowled his first over with a white-ball in India colours, albeit in a warm-up match, since July 9, 2017, during a T20I against West Indies at the Sabina Park in Kingston #T20WorldCup
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) October 18, 2021
England 71/2 after 8 overs: Big over for England as Bairstow takes on Chahar and hits a couple of fours, not afraid to aerial with the expected direction of turn. One down the ground, one over cover.
#T20WorldCup
— The Field (@thefield_in) October 18, 2021
👀 #TeamIndia's first match with their new kit for the World Cup.
📸 BCCI
👍 or 👎 ?https://t.co/AqjZiF2fef pic.twitter.com/Ctc9mTv86F
Rahul Chahar from the other end.
England 59/2 after 7 overs: A four for Malan over cover, lofted really well after giving himself room. Ashwin comes back with a slower length ball and a similar shot is mistimed, but mistimed bad enough to fall short of long off.
Ashwin is the first spinner to come on.
England 51/2 after 6 overs: A good over from Shami to finish the powerplay as India pull things back a little. The 50 comes up in that over after Roy’s dismissal as Bairstow joins Malan.
WICKET! Shami strikes again! This time Jason Roy is the batter dismissed. Tries to lob one over short-fine, but doesn’t get the height. England 47/2 (5.3)
Shami will finish the powerplay. All pace. Interesting.
England 45/1 after 5 overs: Two boundaries for Malan as Bumrah continues. One, he had no clue about. A lovely yorker-ish delivery, gets an edge past Pant. The second is a well-time cover drive for four. But otherwise a top over from Bumrah.
England 37/1 after 4 overs: A couple of boundaries in that over, but Shami came back well. Malan is the new man in.
WICKET! An absolute peach from Shami to beat the outside edge of Buttler. On a length, seemed to straighten a bit after pitching, clips the bails as Buttler tried to run it down third man. India break the dangerous opening partnership in the 4th over after a flier for England. 36/1 after 3.4.
England 27/0 after 3 overs: Roy going after his SRH teammate... a big shot down the ground that almost carries all the way to start the over, followed by a scoop to finish the over. Two boundaries and a no ball (that didn’t cost too much) in that over. If there were concerns re: Bhuvi, those are not being eased.
England 14/0 after 2 overs: Bumrah in nice and early... starts off with a tidy over, good comeback from conceding three off the first ball through midwicket.
Hardik on the field too.
England 8/0 after 1 over: Bhuvi errs on the leg side once and the off side once, both put away in the gap. Three for Roy, four for Buttler.
India’s players on the field to start things off: Kohli, Rahul, Bhuvi, Shami, Ashwin, Pant (WK), Ishan, Bumrah. We’ll confirm the remaining as we see. No Rohit, no Varun...
Right then, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has the ball in hand. Jason Roy and captain for the night Jos Buttler in the middle.
Ravi Shastri: We are going to use these games to get some momentum. Not looking to answer any specific questions, just looking to give enough opportunities for the boys.
In official match news...
T20 World Cup: Curtis Campher’s four-in-four helps Ireland thump Netherlands
Namibia take on Sri Lanka in the next Group A match.
Toss update from Abu Dhabi 📰
— ICC (@ICC) October 18, 2021
Sri Lanka will bowl first. #SLvNAM #T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/4N5epqYV0l
No playing XI news from BCCI yet, but this is a match where the entire squad can be involved. But will be interesting to see who the bowlers that Kohli will use.
In other warmup matches today, Pakistan defeated West Indies (at the venue where India take on England) and South Africa defeated Afghanistan.
#T20WorldCup
— The Field (@thefield_in) October 18, 2021
Virat Kohli says #TeamIndia's top three at will be:
1️⃣ Rohit Sharma
2️⃣ KL Rahul
3️⃣ Virat Kohli
Thoughts, #CricketTwitter ? https://t.co/AqjZiF2fef pic.twitter.com/eHfhNJErci
England’s team news: Buttler confirmed Morgan has been rested given he was involved in the IPL final on Friday, but you see this XI and wonder who does he replace in the middle order without weakening the batting lineup.
The XI for our #T20WorldCup warm-up with @BCCI 🏏
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 18, 2021
🏴 #ENGvIND 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/Cid62XWdBR
Virat Kohli in the new Indian team jersey. pic.twitter.com/7Qy0AJgCVu
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 18, 2021
First piece of significant news regarding India’s plans for the tournament is that Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul will be opening, Virat Kohli says he “will be batting at No 3 in the World Cup.” (Of course, man has bluffed before!)
TOSS: Jos Buttler has walked out for the toss. Virat Kohli wins the toss and opts to bowl.
The match will be broadcast on Disney+Hotstar and Star Sports in India.
Going up against the ICC World No. 1⃣ T20I side - the best way to gear up for the ICC Men's #T20WorldCup!
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 18, 2021
Watch #TeamIndia #LiveTheGame in the warm-up match 🆚 #TeamEngland.#INDvENG pic.twitter.com/dH0zcbwF3t
06.55 pm: The match will be happening at the ICC Academy stadium in Dubai. Will be interesting to see India’s team combination for starters.
Extending a very warm welcome to the KING 👑@msdhoni is back with #TeamIndia and in a new role!💪 pic.twitter.com/Ew5PylMdRy
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 17, 2021
6.55 pm: Hello and welcome to live coverage of India’s warmup match against England ahead of the T20 World Cup.