Former India captain and legendary batter, Sunil Gavaskar has highlighted India's 'Viratball' as a potent response to England's 'Bazball' strategy ahead of their upcoming five-match Test series, commencing on January 25. The first match of this highly anticipated series is scheduled at Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
Virat Kohli, a key player in the Indian squad for the initial two matches of the series, is on the cusp of a significant milestone. He needs just 152 runs to join the elite club of Indian batters with over 9,000 runs in Test cricket, a feat achieved by Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, and Rahul Dravid.
"Yeah, conversion means having more hundreds than fifties. With Kohli, he has as a similar amount of hundreds and fifties, that means he has a good conversion rate. The way he's been batting, his movement looks good. With the form that he's in, we have Viratball to counter Bazball," Gavaskar said on Star Sports.
Gavaskar expressed intrigue over how England's aggressive batting strategy will fare against India's renowned spin attack. With India currently holding the second spot and England the third in the ICC Test rankings, the series promises a high-octane cricketing showdown.
"England have adopted a new approach in Test cricket in the last 1-2 years.It's an aggressive approach where batters look to attack. They just want to play attacking cricket no matter the situation. It'll be interesting to see if this approach works against the spinners of India," Gavaskar added.
Kohli, with five centuries against England in Test cricket, is eyeing the records of Gavaskar and Tendulkar, who each have seven hundreds against England. His pursuit of this record adds an extra layer of excitement to the series, showcasing the blend of individual brilliance and team strategy.
This upcoming series is not just a battle for supremacy in the rankings but also a clash of contrasting cricketing philosophies, with India's strategic prowess set to be tested against England's bold approach. The series is set to captivate cricket fans worldwide, offering a spectacle of top-class Test cricket.
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