R Ashwin critiques Harry Brook's smog excuse after poor performances against India

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Jan 27, 2025, 15:33 IST

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Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin mocked England's Harry Brook for blaming smog for his poor performance against Indian spinners in the first T20I. Ashwin emphasised that visibility was clear in Chennai and suggested that Brook's inability to read Varun Chakravarthy's googly is the real issue. India lead the series 2-0 going into the third T20I.

R Ashwin critiques Harry Brook's smog excuse after poor performances against India

Harry Brook has been dismissed both times in the India series by Varun Chakravarthy.

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin recently took a jibe at England batter Harry Brook for his unusual excuse of 'smog' affecting their performance in the first T20I in Kolkata.
England have struggled in the series so far, being bowled out for 132 in Kolkata and then restricted to 159/9 in the second T20I in Chennai.
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After the first match, Brook claimed that the smog in Kolkata made it difficult for them to see the ball properly. However, following Brook's second consecutive dismissal to Varun Chakravarthy in Chennai, Ashwin pointed out the clear visibility conditions.

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On his YouTube channel 'Ash Ki Baat', Ashwin addressed Brook directly: "There was no smog there in Chennai. Harry Brook had earlier stated that there was smog in Kolkata, so picking Varun Chakravarthy was difficult. I want to say one thing to Harry Brook: 'Please understand that Varun Chakravarthy doesn't bowl leg spin that much. It is [a] googly'."
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Ashwin further analysed Brook's dismissals in the series, emphasising that the England batter's inability to read Chakravarthy's deliveries was the main issue, regardless of the lighting conditions.
"You moved to the leg stump and couldn't read the delivery, so you got bowled. Then you covered the stump and took a big stride, but couldn't read the googly, you got bowled again. No matter how the light is, if you are not reading the googly out of his hand, you are just not reading the delivery out of his hand," said Ashwin.

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Varun Chakravarthy has been in excellent form since his return to international cricket in October 2024, leading the series with five wickets at an average of 12.20 and an economy of 7.62. He was also named Player of the Match in the first game for his figures of 3/23.
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With a 2-0 lead in the series after a two-wicket victory in Chennai, India aim to clinch the series in the third T20I scheduled for Tuesday, January 28, at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot.

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