India vs England 2024

Sunil Gavaskar explains why Bazball could flourish in India

Cricket fans are buzzing with anticipation for the upcoming five-match Test series between India, the undisputed kings of home cricket, and England, under the transformative leadership of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. India’s fortress-like home record stretches back to 2012, a decade of dominance that feels almost unassailable. Yet, this series crackles with a unique electricity.

The reason is England’s recent metamorphosis under Stokes and McCullum. Their brand of fearless, attacking cricket, dubbed “Bazball,” has demolished opponents and redefined Test match excitement. They are yet to lose a series since the duo took charge, leaving everyone wondering: can Bazball conquer the spin-friendly battlegrounds of India?

“They will try to hit them into the stands”

Sunil Gavaskar, the Indian cricket legend, believes that England’s Bazball tactics, a whirlwind of attacking play, can hold their own against India’s spin maestros on home soil. He envisions English batters wielding their willow-like swords, aiming for quick runs on the smaller Indian grounds.

“It can work in India, it can. If you look at it, in the last few years, the boundaries have become smaller. The bats have become better and better and even mishits are flying over the boundary. I think the England batters will try to attack the spinners out of the game. They will try to hit them into the stands. Yes, they might get dismissed in the process, but you create a mentality,” Gavaskar said while speaking to Star Sports.

While Gavaskar champions Bazball’s potential, he cautions that India’s spinners, veterans of the T20 arena, won’t be mere spectators. They’ll be armed with their own bag of tricks, waiting to test England’s attacking mettle.  “Our spinners also play a lot of T20 cricket. What’s your mentality in T20 cricket, there it’s okay if you don’t pick up wickets, but you are careful not to concede sixes or boundaries. Your flight and line… you tend to change it,” he added.

The first Test is slated to get underway on January 25 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.