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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Right-arm pacer Gus Atkinson made his comeback after 13 months as England named their playing XI for the series opener against India at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

England defeated India by 26 runs in the third T20I, with Varun Chakravarthy's five wickets pivotal in India's collapse from 87/3 to 127/8.

Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin slams Harry Brook's smog statement during the India vs England T20I series. Check out what he said only on CricTracker.

India and England have reached Kolkata ahead of the first T20I of the five-match series on Wednesday, January 22 at the iconic Eden Gardens. T20Is are set to return to the iconic venue after nearly three years.