Cricket

India vs England 2nd T20 Tips - India Spinners To Dominate In Slow Chennai Conditions

By Nikhil Kalro

05 Feb 2025

Nikhil Kalro 05 Feb 2025

Share this article

India's aggressive batting led by Abhishek Sharma ensured 1st T20 victory
England's batting struggles against spin in Indian conditions
India likely to continue leveraging spin in upcoming matches

India backed (Getty Images)

India vs England 2nd T20
India Form
India Team News
England Form
England Team News

India vs England 2nd T20

India began their summer at home with a dominant performance, led by spin, against England in the T20I series opener at Eden Gardens.

It was India’s spinners that did much of the damage early as they restricted England to just 132 on a small ground with lots of dew.

Varun Chakravarthy took the wickets of Harry Brook and Liam Livingstone in the same over to initiate a collapse that saw England fall from 65 for 2 to 109 for 8.

He finished with figures of 3 for 23 while Axar Patel managed 2 for 22 from his four overs. The other spinner, Ravi Bishnoi, maintained the discipline with stifling returns of 0 for 22 from his four overs.

Jos Buttler was the only England batter that managed any form or fluency right through that innings as he finished with 68 off 44 balls with eight fours and two sixes. Only two other batters – Brook (17 off 14) and Jofra Archer (12 off 10) managed to get into double digits.

In response, India came out with their new style of aggressive batting with their openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma posting 41 off just 4.2 overs.

Archer picked up two wickets in the same over to give the visitors a semblance of hope but that was quickly evaporated by a sparkling knock from Sharma that saw him bludgeon 79 off just 34 balls with five fours and eight sixes.

India Form

India would be pleased with their performance in the first match, where they used all their strengths against a team that can struggle against disciplined and accurate spin bowling. India will likely continue that trial by spin against England in Chennai, where conditions can be slow and low.

"I think if you see the last few series, the way Varun has bowled, I think he has been a game changer for us," Abhishek Sharma said.

"When you get good wickets all around in the T20 format, you have to have that bowler that bowls really well. It is always difficult for other teams to pick him up. Also, the other spinners, Ravi Bishnoi and Axar [Patel] bhai. It is very difficult for batters to play shots."

India Team News

Hardik Pandya played as the second pacer in the opening T20I, which could continue in Chennai, where conditions will help spin more than seam. Other than that, India won’t make too many changes to their lineup.

England Form

England, on the other hand, would want to fix some of their batting worries with urgency. In India, there will be plenty of accurate spin bowling on surfaces that turn just enough to be a perennial problem.

England will have to find a way to balance their own natural aggression with the situation of the game, particularly on a sluggish surface that Chennai will plausibly throw out.

England Team News

England played three fast bowlers in the first T20I, which may change in the second match. One of Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood or Archer may be left out for a specialist spinner.

Verdict

England have traditionally struggled on the low and slow pitches of India. Their batting has not adapted quick enough, which will be a point of difference as this series progresses.

England will have their moments in this series but you would expect India to be just a tad better in Chennai, with conditions expected to be just a bit more spin-friendly.