'Smog the other night, it was a lot harder to pick as well' - Harry Brook opines on England's spin trouble in Kolkata

In the first T20I against India at Kolkata's Eden Gardens, England's batters were struggling not just with the spin threat but smog. The thick haze that covered the stadium made it tough for the visitors to pick the ball, especially India's spinners, eventually leading to a seven-wicket victory with 43 balls to spare.

England vice-captain Harry Brook, who contributed 17 runs off 14 balls before being dismissed by Varun Chakravarthy's wrong'un, admitted that the conditions played a role in his team's batting collapse.

"I didn't face Bishnoi but Chakravarthy is an exceptionally good bowler. He's tough to pick. I think actually with the smog the other night, it was a lot harder to pick as well. Hopefully, the air is a bit clearer here and we can see the ball a bit easier. He's an exceptional bowler and has got a lot of skills with extreme accuracy as well. Their spinners are their key threat, so we will look to put pressure on them, take them down, put as much pressure as we can on them, and hopefully, they crumble from there," Brook said as quoted by ESPNcricinfo.

India's spinners were in top form throughout the match, with Chakravarthy claiming 3 for 23 in his four overs, while Ravi Bishnoi's 0 for 22 added to the pressure. The two were important in bundling the visitors to a mere total of 132, with the side collapsing from 65 for 2 to 109 for 8. The defeat was further aggravated by Abhishek Sharma's fiery knock of 79 off 34 balls, which ensured India's win.

Historically, England sides have faced similar challenges in India, with pollution cited as a factor during their 1992-93 tour. However, in recent years, the issue has become more evident, with incidents such as the 2017 Test match between India and Sri Lanka, where pollution caused players to fall ill, bringing attention to the air quality in Indian cities.

Also Read: IND vs ENG 2025: England drop Gus Atkinson for second T20I, Brydon Carse likely to play

Looking ahead to the next match, England may make changes to their lineup. Brydon Carse has been included as a pace option, replacing Gus Atkinson, who had a rough outing in Kolkata. England's head coach Brendon McCullum, despite the loss, remains confident in his side's ability to bounce back.