"What AQI excuse...": Aakash Chopra destroys Harry Brook, takes dig at RCB over Phil Salt, Liam Livingstone's failure

Former India National Cricket Team opening batsman Aakash Chopra slammed Harry Brook over his comments that came after the Kolkata T20I where he blamed smog for his failure with the bat.

Aakash Chopra also took a sly dig at the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) over the failure of Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone in the second T20I against India National Cricket Team.

Also Read: Tilak Varma reveals why he gave Jofra Archer 'belt treatment' in IND vs ENG 2nd T20I

Salt got out and then Liam got out, and I was reminded of RCB again - Aakash Chopra

England superstars Phil Salt and Liam Livingstone were bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for Rs 11.50 crore and INR 8.75 crore at the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 mega auction.

Salt has failed in the first two T20Is against India, registering scores of 0 and 4 while Livingstone has registered the scores of 0 and 13 and picked just one wicket with the ball.

Speaking on his YouTube channel after the match, Aakash Chopra stated that the struggles of Salt and Livingstone reminded him of RCB again and their form would be a major concern for the franchise.

"Washi (Washington Sundar) picked up a wicket with his first ball. The bucket (Ben) Duckett has got here seems to have all holes. Four runs in the first match and three in the second. Arshdeep (Singh) dismisses Salt in any case. Salt got out and then Liam got out, and I was reminded of RCB again," he said.

The ball was visible this time but it still hit his stumps - Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra further shifted his focus towards Harry Brook and blasted him for his 'smog' comments. The cricketer-turned-commentator criticized Brook, who has scored 17 and 13 runs in the first two T20Is, saying that he failed to read the delivery even when the ball was visible quite nicely in Chennai with no smog around.

"What AQI excuse do you give, the England guys should feel ashamed. Harry Brook said after the last match that he couldn't see the ball due to smog. The ball was visible this time but it still hit his stumps. It was a short ball; you played on the front foot, and it hit your stumps. You are unable to read the ball from the hand," he observed.

However, Chopra was not impressed with the shot selection of Ben Duckett and Phil Salt in the Chennai T20I and slammed the English openers. Aakash Chopra stated:

"Duckett was playing a reverse sweep off the first ball. What are you doing? You might have played Washi for the first time in your life. It seemed like Phil Salt was playing well. It was a short ball and he could have hit it to third man as the fielder was in, but he dragged it to the leg side and was caught in the deep."

Buttler kept fighting alone. How long will the poor guy fight? - Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra further lauded England captain Jos Buttler for leading his team from the front with his fighting knock of 45 runs. The former India opener was also mighty impressed with Brydon Carse's all-round heroics as he scored 31 runs and bagged three wickets.

"Buttler kept fighting alone. How long will the poor guy fight? He too was dismissed identically (similar to the last match). He got out to extra bounce. That was constantly telling us that the pitch was good for batting. Liam Livingstone, once again, he too succumbed to a little extra bounce," Aakash Chopra said.

England National Cricket Team lost the thrilling second T20I against India National Cricket Team by 2 wickets to go down 0-2 in the series and the third T20I will be a do-or-die encounter for them in Rajkot.