With the series already decided in India’s favor, Sharma took aim at England’s Bazball philosophy and cheekily responded to comments made by England opener Ben Duckett.
Duckett had earlier suggested that India’s Yashasvi Jaiswal‘s aggressive batting style in the series was influenced by Bazball.However, Sharma swiftly countered Duckett’s remarks by reminding him of India’s own explosive batter, Rishabh Pant.”There was a guy called Rishabh Pant in our team, probably Ben Duckett hasn’t seen him play,” Sharma quipped, drawing laughter from the press.
Sharma’s comments come in the backdrop of a broader discussion about Bazball, a term associated with England’s approach to playing aggressive and positive cricket, particularly under the stewardship of Brendon McCullum as head coach and Ben Stokes as captain.
Reflecting on the series, Sharma acknowledged England’s improved performance compared to their previous tour of India in 2021. However, he humorously admitted that he was still puzzled about the true essence of Bazball.
“I just don’t know what Bazball means. I haven’t seen wild swinging from anyone. England have played better cricket than they were here last time. But I still don’t know what Bazball means,” Sharma remarked.
The banter aside, Sharma also commended his team’s resilience in the face of adversity throughout the series, highlighting their ability to bounce back from challenging situations.
“It has been a series of comebacks for us. Whenever we were put under pressure, we were able to put the pressure back on the opposition. That was pleasing for me,” Sharma noted.
Looking ahead to the final Test in Dharamsala, Sharma expressed confidence in the pitch conditions, expecting a typical Indian surface with some movement, particularly as the temperature drops.
“Looks like a typical Indian pitch. There will be some movement when the temperature drops but looks like a good pitch,” Sharma remarked, setting the stage for an intriguing conclusion to the series.
India vs England 4th Test: India beat England, secure 17th straight Test series win at home
(With agencies inputs)