“I think cricket should be played like that”, Kapil Dev wants India to be more aggressive and play Tests like “wonderful” Bazball

Kapil Dev wants India to adopt England’s Bazball approach to Test cricket.

“I think cricket should be played like that”, Kapil Dev wants India to be more aggressive and play Tests like “wonderful” Bazball

Kapil Dev (L), Rohit Sharma (R) (Pictures via The Siasat Daily)

1983 World Cup winning Captain, Kapil Dev wants India to adopt England’s Bazball approach to Test cricket. England head coach Brendon McCullum and captain Ben Stokes implemented a more aggressive, attacking and result oriented style of cricket that has revolutionised Test cricket. 

Kapil Dev believes that teams should stop playing for draws and start getting more aggressive. “BazBall is wonderful. The series between England and Australia was one of the finest series I have seen in recent times”. He further added that Rohit is a good Test captain, but it’s time he gets more aggressive in his approach. 

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Kapil Dev believes that Bazball is the revolution needed in cricket and thinks that all teams should follow it. “Winning the game should be the highest priority” says Kapil Dev. Rohit Sharma has captained India in 9 tests, winning 5 and losing 2, including the 2023 WTC Final.

Related: “We will drop at least 4 players,” Ravichandran Ashwin gives REALITY check on why India can’t play Bazball like England

Will Bazball work in India?

Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum
Ben Stokes (L) with Brendon McCullum (R) Source: The Guardian

Bazball is named after Brendon Mccullum, who’s nickname is Baz. Mccullum and Stokes came up with this approach and in the English summer of 2022, won all Test Series they played. This included series against South Africa, New Zealand and a one-off test against India. He ended that summer with 5 wins and a loss. England continued this impressive form by whitewashing Pakistan in Pakistan in a 3 match test series and drawing a 2 match series against New Zealand

In June 2023, England hosted Australia for the 5 match Ashes series, which ended 2-2. Although Australia did retain the Ashes, England gave a tough fight to the WTC Champions in all 5 games. When they lost the first 2 games, fans kept trolling the approach and pundits criticized it. It was called risky and self-destructive. England dominated the next three games, winning the 3rd Test, drawing the 4th test due to rain and winning the 5th test.

Now with England set to tour India at the start of 2024, all eyes are on Bazball. India is known to be one of the toughest countries to bat in due to the slow, dusty wickets that assist spin. The last time England toured India, they struggled against the spin trio R Ashwin, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. India haven’t lost a home test series since 2012, against England. Could England potentially recreate history with Bazball?

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