IND vs ENG, 2nd T20I: Bruised England looks to level series in Chennai, Carse replaces Atkinson
IND vs ENG, 2nd T20I: Bruised England looks to level series in Chennai, Carse replaces Atkinson
A bruised England side will look to level the five-match series when it takes on India in the second T20I at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday.
England’s new era in white-ball cricket, under head coach Brendon McCullum, began with a seven-wicket defeat to India in the first T20I in Kolkata. The English batting unravelled gradually before collapsing rapidly, a familiar pattern against Indian spinners, particularly on home soil, where defeats often unfold like financial ruin. The three Indian spinners claimed five wickets between them, conceding just 67 in 12 overs while condemning the visitor to its heaviest T20I defeat in terms of deliveries remaining — 43 balls.
The surface in Chennai typically favours spin bowlers, but the presence of dew can make conditions unpredictable. Both captains may want to bowl first on a fresh black-soil pitch.
The last T20I at M.A. Chidambaram Stadium was in 2018, when India beat West Indies in a 182-run chase on the last ball, incidentally also the highest T20I total at the venue.
England’s batting woes have already caused plenty of distress. Phil Salt, Ben Duckett, Liam Livingstone, and Jacob Bethell failed miserably in Kolkata, with captain Jos Buttler’s 68 being the lone bright spot. The rest of the batting lineup managed just 53 runs collectively, with 11 extras pushing the total to a modest 132. The middle order will need to be more proactive in its strokeplay and rotating the strike. With his back-of-the-hand offerings, homeboy Varun Chakravarthy will again be a potent threat.
There was some curiosity surrounding Mohammed Shami’s absence in the last match. The decision though appeared tactical, with the team fielding one frontline seamer alongside three specialist spinners — a strategy that ultimately paid dividends.
In stark contrast, England’s call to employ four specialist pacers highlighted a misreading of the surface. Buttler will be wary of repeating the same mistake twice.
The Chennai T20, along with the remainder of this series, presents an opportunity to glimpse the potential future of India’s batting in the shortest format. Most notably, opener Abhishek Sharma showcased the bolder template in Kolkata by embracing the tactic of hitting more sixes. On the other hand, England faltered in this critical area, managing a total of just three maximums. Abhishek alone struck eight.
Abhishek epitomises India’s evolving approach with an unfazed demeanour, a languid bat swing, and a razor-sharp ability to connect. This is not to say he hasn’t faltered; he has been dismissed for under 20 in eight of his first 13 T20I innings. Yet, neither he nor the team management seems willing to waver from this aggressive style of play.
In team news, Brydon Carse replaces Gus Atkinson. Bethell is doubtful after reportedly missing training due to illness. Jamie Smith could make his T20I debut for England if Bethell doesn’t play.
For India, the focus will be on whether Shami will finally be fit enough to return. He had his knees strapped as he bowled in the nets on Friday, with bowling coach Morne Morkel keeping a close watch.
As Brook pointed out on the eve of the match, “it’s been just one game,” and with three T20Is still to come after this, both teams will resist the urge to overanalyse individual showings, instead focusing on ironing out broader team-level issues, if any.
