Former India skipper Sunil Gavaskar gave an epic reply when asked how India will counter England’s Bazball approach in the upcoming home 5-Test series.
Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum have gone about “revolutionizing” Test cricket since joining hands in mid-2022, bringing entertainment and “creating memories” with their aggressive brand of cricket that has been nicknamed “Bazball.” England have not lost a single Test series under Stokes and McCullum, winning 13 out of 18 Tests.
Sunil Gavaskar reckons India will tackle Bazball with their own “Viratball.” The 74-year-old former opener pointed out that Virat Kohli has been in sensational form across formats since last year, and backs the 35-year-old to step up in the big challenge.
Sunil Gavaskar said on Star Sports, “Agar unke bass Bazball hai to hamare pass Viratball hai (if they have Bazball, we have Viratball). He has been in good form, the wy he is batting & his movement is looking good.”
Virat Kohli averages 42 against England in 28 Test matches. He has notched up 5 Test centuries, including a double hundred, against the Three Lions.
“Bazball can work in India”: Sunil Gavaskar

Gavaskar believes that because of the short boundaries in India and the aggressive mentality of the England batters, Bazball can come to fruition in the upcoming Test series. This will be England’s toughest test so far. India have not lost a single Test series at home in the last 11 years.
Sunil Gavaskar explained, “Bazball can work, it’s because, over the last few years, the boundaries have become shorter. The bats are also well-built that even mishits go for sixes. So, yes, why not, Bazball can work and they will try to do it. They will try to hit over the ground when spinners come out to ball. They might get out but it builds a mentality because the spinners that we have, they also play a lot of T20s.”
Virat Kohli needs 9 runs to complete 2,000 runs against England in Tests. pic.twitter.com/2H03Dl9k8w
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 20, 2024
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