Harry Brook was trolled for saying that the Kolkata smog was one of the biggest reasons why England failed to pick India's Varun Chakarvarthy from his hand.

Chennai: The evening smog in Kolkata made it doubly harder to pick mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy from his hand, feels England vice-captain Harry Brook, who is hoping that Chennai air will be comparatively clearer for sighting the white Kookaburra.

India ride on Abhishek Sharma's 34-ball 79 and a clinical display from bowlers as the hosts beat England by 7 wickets in the first T20I. India take 1-0 lead in the five-match series.

Chasing a paltry 133 for a win, India overhauled the target with 43 balls to spare as they reached 133 for 3 in just 12.5 overs.

Two fearless batting line-ups with the exuberance of youth and some experienced heads in the mix, with the coaches, who want their players to play entertaining and watchable cricket, the upcoming five-match T20 series between India and England,

Chakravarthy has been in fine form of late. He finished as the joint second-highest wicket-taker of the Vijay Hazare Trophy this month, with Karnataka's V Koushik. Playing for Tamil Nadu, Chakravarthy took 18 wickets in just six games.

India begins their T20I series against England in Kolkata, with clear weather expected and England naming Gus Atkinson in their playing XI for a fresh start under coach Brendon McCullum.

England's Harry Brook believes Kolkata's smog was partly responsible for his side's poor batting display against spinners in the series-opening T20I against India.

England are set to make at least one change to the XI in Chennai, with Brydon Carse included as a pace option in place of Gus Atkinson, who endured a night to forget with bat and ball at Kolkata.

In a blow to the Indian cricket team, fast bowler Mohammed Shami was left out of the Playing XI for the first match of the five-game T20I series against England being held at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The decision has dampened hopes of Shami's much-awaited return to international cricket.

After struggling against spin at Kolkata, England could be up for a bigger challenge against the spin bowling trio of Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel and Ravi Bishnoi at spin-friendly Chepauk Stadium in Chennai during the second T20I against England.