Looks like tearaway speedster Jofra Archer is in no mood to accept England's big defeat against India in the first T20I at the Eden Gardens. Jofra Archer in a surprising claim, said that Indian batters were 'extremely lucky' to win the T20I series opener in Kolkata. England were no match for India as they could only put 132 on the board which was chased by the hosts without breaking a sweat.
Despite picking up two wickets for England, Archer believes that the Indian batters were lucky to survive a few close calls. Archer, who finished with figures of 2 for 21 in his four overs, said that the conditions favored him towards the end of his spell. However, he maintained that India's batters were fortunate not to lose their wickets on several occasions when they lofted the ball in the air.
Indian batters were extremely lucky: Jofra Archer
This statement comes after India comfortably chased down a modest target of 132 runs, securing a seven-wicket victory with 43 balls to spare.
"I guess the conditions just favoured me a little bit more than the other bowlers. The other bowlers bowled well, but the batters were extremely lucky. A few balls, well a lot of balls, went up in the air but didn’t go to hand and probably next game they all go to hand and they’re 40 for six," Archer was quoted as saying after the match by The Daily Mail.
The Indian batters largely dominated the match, presenting few opportunities for the fielding side. While there was a dropped catch of Abhishek Sharma and a difficult chance to dismiss Tilak Verma, these were isolated incidents. Overall, the Indian batters displayed exceptional control and minimized the chances for the opposition to make inroads. Abhishek Sharma ended up cracking a blistering 79 off 34 riding on five fours and eight sixes.
However, Archer acknowledged that such this happens in India, especially in IPL. The superstar pacer isn't bogged down by the defeat as he said that it's important to keep the head up heading into the next game. He advised his teammates to stay focused and learn from the experience.
"It’s just important to keep the head up, this happens a lot in India, especially in the IPL. The batters go hard, the bowlers go hard and we were just on the unlucky side of it," Archer added.
When questioned about England's chances of winning the match at the Eden Gardens, Archer feel they could have been more competitive if they had managed to secure a few early wickets. He admitted that early breakthroughs could have put pressure on the Indian batting lineup and potentially shifted the momentum of the game in England's favor. However, Archer later conceded that the Indian batters ultimately proved to be too strong on the day.
"Yeah, you’ve always got to try in the beginning, because if you get them three or four down in the power play then usually teams bat differently in the middle. The only way you’re going to know is if you try. We gave it a try, it didn’t work, so we will try again next game," Archer concluded.
The second T20I between India and England is scheduled for Saturday, January 25 in Chennai. Archer will look to make the most of the venue given his good track record here. Archer enjoyed a memorable performance at this venue during the 2021 Test series against India. In that Test match, England notched a resounding 227-run win, with Archer playing a crucial role. He dismissed key Indian players including Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Jasprit Bumrah, contributing significantly to England's dominant performance. Archer will undoubtedly be looking to replicate his past success in Chennai and help England bounce back in the five-match outing.