India will face England in the opening match of the five-match T20I series at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street later today. The visitors enter the contest after a 2-0 series defeat to Ireland and will look to make a strong start against Harry Brook's side.India vs England 1st T20I pitch report The pitch at the Riverside Ground is expected to provide a balanced contest, with batting unlikely to be straightforward. During this season's T20 Blast, the highest total at the venue was 151, while the lowest score was 93 all out. Recent results at the ground have been evenly split between teams batting first and teams chasing, indicating that disciplined cricket is likely to be rewarded.Also Read: England vs India 1st T20I Playing 11: Check probable XIs, full squads and head-to-head record India vs England 1st T20I weather forecast today Rain is forecast throughout the evening in Chester-le-Street, raising the possibility of interruptions during the first T20I. The damp conditions could delay the start or result in a shortened contest. Captains are expected to keep the weather forecast in mind while making decisions at the toss.India seek turnaround after Ireland setback India begin the England series after suffering their first-ever T20I series defeat to Ireland. The 2-0 loss also ended India's 16-series unbeaten run against the Irish side. The five-match series will be Shreyas Iyer's second assignment as T20I captain after a disappointing start to his tenure.Also Read: India vs England 1st T20I Live Streaming: When and where to watch IND vs ENG match live on TV and online Batting under scrutiny India's batters struggled to adapt to the seam movement and variable bounce in Ireland. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said the team's ultra-attacking approach prevented the batters from adjusting to the conditions. Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma endured difficult outings, with Abhishek being the only top-order batter to score a half-century. Shreyas Iyer, returning to international T20Is for the first time since December 2023, will also be expected to contribute with the bat. Bowlers provide positives Despite the series defeat, India's bowling attack showed encouraging signs. Prince Yadav, Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh were among the team's better performers in Ireland.