The five-match T20 series between India and England has begun, with the first match played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata. The Indian team dominated the opening game, defeating England by 7 wickets and taking a 1-0 lead in the series. Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakravarthy played crucial roles in India’s victory.
The second T20 match is set to take place on January 25 (Saturday) at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. Team India will aim to strengthen its grip on the series with another win, while England will look to bounce back and level the series. Let’s take a look at the pitch conditions for this crucial match.
India vs England, 2nd T20 – Chennai Pitch Report
The MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai has hosted a total of nine T20 matches so far. Out of these, the team batting first has won six times, while the chasing team has won only twice. The average first-innings score at this venue is 150, while the second-innings average is 122.
The pitch in Chennai is generally not very favorable for batsmen. Batters often struggle to score freely and need to play their shots carefully. The surface tends to be slow, making stroke-making difficult. Spinners get significant assistance on this pitch, and they usually dominate more than fast bowlers. Looking at these statistics, it is likely that whichever captain wins the toss will prefer to bat first.
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India’s Spin Strength Against England
India has a strong spin attack for this T20 series, featuring Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, and Washington Sundar. In the first T20 in Kolkata, Chakravarthy bowled brilliantly, picking up three wickets, while Axar Patel also contributed with two wickets. Given the spin-friendly nature of the Chennai pitch, India’s spinners could once again play a crucial role in the second T20.