Michael Vaughan. (Photo Source: Twitter)
The intent of the Indian team was visible to all from the get-go, ever since Yashasvi Jaiswal stroked three boundaries in the very first over of the first innings in the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur.
After Bangladesh got bundled out for 231 in the second session of the day, the Indian openers seemed primed to obliterate anything and everything, which was being served up by the Bangladeshi bowlers. Not only did they score the fastest-ever team 50 in the history of Test cricket, but also the fastest 100, 150, 200, and 250. Five of the 10 batters who came out to the middle struck at over 140 as the likes of Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul seemed on a mission brimmed with all-out aggression.
Just after India declared the innings on a score of 285/9 after 34.4 overs, former England captain, Michael Vaughan, put out a tweet claiming India had gone into Bazball mode, considering the sheer assertiveness they displayed during their entire innings.
I see India are playing Bazball .. 👀👀
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) September 30, 2024
However, the remark wasn’t met well as loads of Indian supporters hoarded into the comments section of Vaughan, largely claiming that the brand of cricket Vaughan was referring to had already been played by former Indian and international cricketers, that too with a better success rate.
Yup, but the version where team playing BazBall wins
— Shreya (@shreyamatsharma) September 30, 2024
Before BazBall
Sehwag
Hayden
Gilchrist
Pant
Jayasuriya
ABDPlayed the aggressive brand of cricket
BazBall is failed miserably when it matters the most
— Ash (@Ashsay_) September 30, 2024
Virender Sehwag & Rishabh Pant used to play this brand of aggressive batting in Test cricket even before Bazball was invented
— Karnataka Weather (@Bnglrweatherman) September 30, 2024
india is playing what india playing since long
— कवि: आलोक “अज्ञात” (@alokntyl) September 30, 2024
BazBall is a copycat product of ViruBall and PantBall which was destroyed and finished by JaisBall in January 2024.
— Johns (@JohnyBravo183) September 30, 2024
All to play for on Day 5 as crucial WTC points at stake
Despite India being in the driver’s seat with regards to the 2023-25 cycle of the World Test Championship, India would not want to slack off from the momentum they’ve gained over time, particularly keeping in mind that their next eight Tests before the cycle ends, are against New Zealand and Australia.
With Bangladesh still trailing by 26 runs and eight wickets remaining, it could be expected that the final day’s play will be packed with aggressive fields coupled with jingoistic bowling in order to claim a famous win in a game that has been heavily truncated by precipitation and maintenance issues.