Harry Brook's weakness against spinners was once again exposed by Varun Chakravarthy as the India spinner hammered the England batsman during the second T20I at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Saturday (January 25).
For the second game in a row, Harry Brook was undone by a Chakravarthy foul. The right-handed batsman started his innings in quick fashion, hitting a six and a four to reach 13 off 7 balls.
However, Chakravarthy only needed one delivery to send him back. Brought into the attack for the seventh over, Chakravarthy bowled the first two deliveries to Jos Buttler before bowling Harry Brook in the third.
The ball had landed just outside off-stump and Harry Brook expected it to turn. However, the ball came back and went through the big gap between bat and pad to hit the stumps. Brook's reaction after the dismissal said it all as he was seen smiling as he looked at Chakravarthy before walking off.
Clock:
Through the gates! 🎯
In-form Varun Chakaravarthy strikes in his first over ⚡️⚡️
Watch the match ▶️ https://t.co/6RwYIFWg7i#TeamIndia | #WIN | @IDFCFIRSTBank | @chakaravarthy29 pic.twitter.com/NddoPmTlDo
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 25, 2025
Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri take a dig at Harry Brook
As soon as Harry Brook was bowled by Varun Chakravarthy, former India cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri couldn't resist taking on their England batsman. The India legends were quick to remind Brook that he failed against the spinner even when his visibility was not affected by the smog.
Shastri and Gavaskar's comments were in reference to Brook's comments about his and his teammates' struggle against the spinners in the first T20I at Eden Gardens earlier this week. The right-handed batsman blamed the smog for England's poor performance against India's spinners.
“I haven't faced Bishnoi but Chakravarthy is an exceptionally good bowler,” Brook had said. “It's hard to pick. I think actually with the smog last night it was a lot harder to pick. Hopefully the air is a little clearer here and we can see the ball a little easier.
And after Chakravarthy dismissed the England star, Gavaskar said: “Could Chakravarthy ask if there is smog?”
On the other hand, Shastri said, “You don't need the smog tonight. It crept in”.
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