Ravichandran Ashwin advises India to be a bit conservative with approach in T20s

India's T20I set-up was fairly revamped following their World Cup win in 2024, which also saw the retirement of three veterans like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja from the format. Suryakumar Yadav has been appointed as the full-time skipper, and key positions have been taken over by younger generation.

However, this has not affected their success rate. India, in fact, are enjoying with a much more aggressive approach towards their game, and the results have definitely been phenomenal.

Recently the Indian team went on to win the series 4-1, and saw players like Abhishek Sharma play an attacking form of cricket which helped the team put up a big total on the board. There have been many experts who have lauded the new approach but recently retired legendary off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin advised the team to not get carried away with the approach while supporting this style of cricket giving an example of England and their Bazball tactics which have become very popular in the current generation. 

“I was reading that Gambhir wants the team to score 240-260 in every game. I am on board with this approach. For Gambhir Gambit, I have one suggestion: Keep playing this way but don’t play like England, please! You can call the template Bazball or anything but it’s not right,” Ashwin said on his YouTube channel. 

“Yesterday (Sunday) you could seen them smiling despite their batters getting out to give an impression that they are cool with this approach. There’s a fine line between playing aggressive cricket and reckless cricket. India are playing aggressive cricket these days. But I have my reservations with England’s style," he added. 

Ashwin criticises English tactics 

Apart from the advice to the Indian side, the legendary cricketer also opened up on the England team and their tactics and also talked about the concussion substitute controversy where Harshit Rana was brought in place of Shivam Dube as a concussion substitute which the England team had a problem with. The 38-year-old still criticised the approach of the players. 

“If I was England, I would be really worried. Bazball is fine but they are losing more than they are winning. It’s a serious matter of concern. You may call attritional cricket as being old (fashioned) but you cannot ignore it. The thinking is questionable. I know they were upset about Harshit Rana coming in as concussion substitute but in 5th T20I, they gave wickets to Shivam Dube as well. What’s the difference then? They must prove a point," Ashwin concluded.