Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said that Virat Kohli will be a potent threat to England’s Bazball approach during the upcoming five-match Test series in India which will begin in Hyderabad on January 25. He also added that Kohli enjoys a 50+ average against England in home Tests. He has a double century and two tons against the English. Kohli has scored 1991 runs in 28 Tests at an average of 42.36, including five centuries and nine fifties, against England.

Sunil Gavaskar told Star Sports: “Agar unke bass Bazball hai to hamare pass Viratball hai (if they have Bazball, we have Viratball).”

Gavaskar, meanwhile, added that England’s Bazball approach can work in India’s spin-friendly conditions. The veteran stated it’s similarities to T20 but also backed the Indian spinners to come out on top in the end as well.

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He said: “Bazball can work, it’s because, over the last few years, the boundaries have become shorter. The bats are also well-built that even mishits go for sixes. So, yes, why not, Bazball can work and they will try to do it. They will try to hit over the ground when spinners come out to ball. They might get out but it builds a mentality because the spinners that we have, they also play a lot of T20s.”

Gavaskar added that the opening Test in Hyderabad will set the tone for the rest of the series:

“In T20s, your mentality is to avoid sixes and fours whether you get the wickets or not. You alter the flight and line. So, if they get hit for two or four sixes then they will change the flight and length and it can be effective. The first Test will be very important. We’ve to see to the pitch in Hyderabad, it offers a lot of pace and bounce, which is good for the batters. It’ll be a good test for Bazball against our spinners,” Sunil Gavaskar concluded.