Harry Brook, England's vice-captain, attributed his team’s difficulties against India’s spin bowlers in the first T20I to Kolkata's smoggy conditions. Brook, who scored 17 off 14 balls before being bowled by Varun Chakravarthy's wrong'un, noted the hazy atmosphere made it challenging to pick the variations.
England collapsed from 65 for 2 to 132 all out, with India's spinners claiming five wickets in total.
Chakravarthy delivered an impressive performance, taking 3 for 23 in four overs, while Ravi Bishnoi kept things tight with figures of 0 for 22. India chased down the target comfortably, powered by Abhishek Sharma's blistering 79 off 34 balls, securing a seven-wicket win with 43 balls to spare.
Speaking ahead of the second T20I in Chennai, Brook acknowledged Chakravarthy’s skill and expressed optimism for better visibility. "He's an exceptional bowler with a lot of skills and extreme accuracy. Hopefully, with clearer air here, we’ll handle their spinners better and put pressure on them," he said.
England’s struggles in Kolkata revived memories of previous tours, such as their 1992-93 visit when Ted Dexter famously blamed smog for a heavy Test defeat. In recent years, the issue has gained prominence, with pollution stopping a Test match between India and Sri Lanka in 2017.
For the Chennai match, England is set to make changes, including Brydon Carse replacing Gus Atkinson, who struggled in Kolkata, and Jamie Smith potentially coming in for Jacob Bethell, who missed training due to illness.
This heavy defeat marked a subdued start for Brendon McCullum as England’s white-ball head coach. However, his appointment of Brook as Jos Buttler's vice-captain reflects his vision of unifying England’s red- and white-ball squads.
Brook shared the casual way he was informed of his new role: "We were in the bar, and Baz [McCullum] texted me from across the room saying, 'Congrats, you're the vice-captain.' I just replied, 'Beautiful, thanks.' Jos is experienced, so I’ll offer suggestions when needed, but it’s his call."
England now hopes for a stronger performance in Chennai as they aim to bounce back in the series.
Updated on 25th January, 2025 by MyFortune11 Team.