Suryakumar Yadav’s decision to field first, aiming to exploit the moisture on the pitch, proved to be a masterstroke as Arshdeep Singh made an early breakthrough with the new ball.
Despite Jos Buttler’s half-century keeping the game in balance, England found themselves struggling at 74/4 after ten overs, with Buttler lacking support from the other end.
It was at this point that the head coaches of both teams made their way onto the field, drawing attention amidst the live play.
India appeared to have the upper hand, with Jacob Bethall failing to read the Indian spinners, which only increased the pressure on his batting partner.
During the refreshment break, Brendon McCullum, the England head coach, was spotted walking towards the Indian huddle. Moments later, Gautam Gambhir, the Indian assistant coach, approached McCullum, and the two former Kolkata Knight Riders teammates shared a warm hug before shaking hands.
Moment♥️ pic.twitter.com/cgY1Pi7pjA
— jithesh (@jithesh1569353) January 22, 2025
The touching interaction was met with loud cheers from the Eden Gardens crowd, who have long had a strong connection to the iconic Kolkata franchise. The heartfelt exchange quickly became a social media sensation, sparking laughter and delight across the Twitterverse.