Ex-India's star pacer Irfan Pathan talked about the upcoming five-match Test series between India and England. Irfan Pathan expressed his desire for the team led by Rohit Sharma to achieve a resounding 5-0 series victory, which would greatly please the fans.
The stage is set for the highly anticipated Test series between India and England, starting on January 25. The contest, featuring the aggressive English style known as "Bazball" against Indian spinners, will begin at Hyderabad's Uppal stadium. The series will extend until March, concluding with the final Test in Dharamsala starting on March 7th.
The Indian team has been exceptionally strong at home, having decisively defeated England during their last visit. However, the upcoming series presents a new challenge. The English team, significantly transformed since their last tour, will be a different opponent this time.
Under the leadership of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, England has revolutionized their approach to Test cricket. Known as the Three Lions, they now emphasize an aggressive style of play, aiming to exert pressure on their opponents through their attacking tactics.
The Bazball strategy of England has been remarkably effective, as they have yet to lose a Test series since its implementation. However, their upcoming challenge is formidable, as defeating India on their home turf is no easy task. To achieve such a feat requires exceptional effort, and the Indian team, led by Rohit Sharma, has maintained an unbroken series winning streak at home over the past decade.
England's last triumph in a Test series on Indian soil was back in 2012, under Alastair Cook's captaincy, where they secured a 3-2 series victory.
Irfan Pathan expressed his admiration for England's Bazball method and shared his enthusiasm about the upcoming clash between the English batsmen and Indian spinners on pitches likely to favor turn.
Highlighting England's aggressive playstyle, Pathan noted that an Indian series win would be a significant achievement. In a conversation with Star Sports, he elaborated on this point.
“The cricket that England team brings, their Bazball, their aggressive intent. It will be interesting to see how they will tackle the challenge of spin. They have a different way of playing Test cricket, to play against them at home and if you win a five-match Test series, it will give immense joy to Indian fans and team,” Pathan said.
Irfan Pathan emphasized that victories in home Tests are often not celebrated in India. However, he encouraged a change in this attitude, highlighting the importance of acknowledging such wins, especially considering England's thorough preparation for the series, backed by their experienced players. He shared his insights on the matter:
“We don’t celebrate home Test wins much but we shouldn’t do that because England will come with experienced players. If we could whitewash them then it will altogether be a different thing,” Pathan added.
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