England’s Vice-Captain, Kolkata Air, Indian Spinners, India vs England, 1st T20I, Harry Brook, sports.
Brook admitted that the poor air quality made it harder to pick the spinners, particularly Varun Chakravarthy, who dismantled England’s batting lineup in their seven-wicket defeat. Looking ahead to the second T20I in Chennai, Brook expressed hope for clearer air at the Chepauk Stadium, which might make batting against India’s spin attack less challenging.
The match in Kolkata highlighted contrasting strategies from the two teams. England fielded a pace-heavy attack with four frontline pacers and leg-spinner Rashid Khan, while India relied on a spin-dominant approach, with only one specialist seamer, Arshdeep Singh, and three spinners. The plan paid off handsomely for India, as Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel took five wickets between them, while Ravi Bishnoi bowled economically. Brook fell victim to Chakravarthy’s clever bowling, failing to read a googly that knocked out his stumps.
Speaking about his dismissal, Brook acknowledged Chakravarthy’s skills, calling him “an exceptionally good bowler”. Reflecting on the challenge, he added, “With the smog the other night, it was a lot harder to pick. Hopefully, the air is a bit clearer here, and we can see the ball a bit easier.” As the series moves to Chennai, England will be eager to adapt and bounce back against India’s spin threat.
