Forerunners Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar and Mohd Kaif at one drop returned home for single-digit scores.
Meanwhile, Yuvraj Singh took the start but couldn’t take advantage of it.
Seven points for 119, the game looked almost over for India, but Irfan and Gony miraculously brought the home side back into the game with a 63-point partnership.
But in the end, 189 was too rigid a target for India to pursue.
Earlier, England Legends captain Kevin Pietersen slammed half a century to help his side post a grand total of 188/7 in 20 overs.
For India, Yusuf Pathan (3/28) won the most wickets while stimulators Irfan and Munaf Patel each have two wickets.
After being put to bat first by India, the visitors put on a nice stick display, but not without the help of the hosts’ sloppy fielding in the outfield.
Pietersen detonated a 37 bullets 75 which included six borders and five huge sixes. Aside from his individual performance, the England captain was involved in an 82-point second wicket stand with Darren Maddy, which allowed them to give India a tough total.
His partner and No.3 Maddy skillfully backed Pietersen with 29 balls, 27 balls and three limits.
The 40-year-old was ruthless in his stick and never spared anyone. Left arm spinner Pragyan Ojha carried the brunt of his anger in the second on himself when he was hit for two sixes and four. Yuvraj Singh, too, received a few pastings from Pietersen as the latter ran to his half-century in just 17 balls.
Pietersen also had a life at 64 when he pushed Irfan Pathan long-term, but Manpreet Singh Gony didn’t seize the opportunity.
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Irfan later got it twice later with a slow bouncer who took Pietersen’s advantage over wicket keeper Naman Ojha while attempting a loose shot.
But the damage was mostly done and England only needed cameos from Gavin Hamilton (15) and Chris Schofield (15) to bring them to a respectable total.
Brief scores: England Legends: 188/7 in 20 overs (Kevin Pitersen 75, Darren Maddy 29; Yusuf Pathan 3/28, Irfan Pathan 2/28, Munaf Patel 2/30) defeated India Legends 182/7 in 20 overs (Irfan Pathan 61 *, Manpreet Singh Ghony 35 *; Monty Panesar 3/15, James Tredwell 2/44)