Chennai, Jan 24 : England’s struggles against spinners in India resurfaced as they succumbed to a seven-wicket defeat in the first T20I of the five-match series on Tuesday.
Opting to bat first, England’s batting line-up faltered once again against spin, getting bundled out for a modest 132. Varun Chakravarthy, who narrowly missed out on India’s Champions Trophy squad, showcased his skill with figures of 3/23 in his four overs. The Indian spinners delivered a commanding 12-over spell, conceding just 67 runs while picking up five wickets.
Adding to England’s woes, left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh made an immediate impact with the new ball, removing Phil Salt (0) and Ben Duckett (4) within the first three overs. Arshdeep finished with impressive figures of 2/17, becoming India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is in the process.
England captain Jos Buttler was the lone bright spot for the visitors, top-scoring with a resilient 68, but the lack of support from the rest of the line-up proved costly. England’s long-standing issues against finger-spin remain well-documented, and addressing this weakness will be crucial for their chances in the remaining matches.
Chasing 133, India made light work of the target, reaching it in just 12.5 overs with seven wickets to spare. Abhishek Sharma was the star of the chase, smashing a scintillating 34-ball 79 to anchor India’s innings, supported by Sanju Samson’s composed 26.
The second T20I of the series will take place on Thursday, with England needing to regroup to stay in contention.
Brief Scores:
England: 132 in 20 overs (Buttler 68, Arshdeep 2/17, Hardik 2/42, Varun 3/23, Axar 2/22).
India: 133/3 in 12.5 overs (Abhishek 79, Samson 26, Archer 2/21).
