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What is Bazball? 5 things to know about the concept that has taken England cricket by storm

Bazball is not just a strategy that England follows but an approach that comes with a mindset that Bairstow best described as "freedom".

Jun 18, 2023, 6:17 AM5 min read

What is Bazball? 5 things to know about the concept that has taken England cricket by storm

Into the final hour of Day 1 of the first Ashes Test, Joe Root smashed Nathan Lyon for two huge sixes. The former England captain had just reached his 30th Test century which played a pivotal role in the team's recovery against newly-crowned WTC winners Australia in Birmingham to 393 for eight. There was a sense of freedom in his batting. And despite having a tail-end batter in Ollie Robinson at the other end, Root continued his dominance on that flat Edgbaston wicket. England could add more runs to add pressure on Australia but England captain Ben Stokes had other plans. He left the world cricket in sheer disbelief and decided to declare the innings with 10 more overs scheduled for the day. The tactic drew mixed reactions from veteran cricketers. Everyone said that's Bazball - the word that has taken England cricket by storm. But what is Bazball?

Read Also: Most centuries in the Ashes

The Bazball Concept

Origin:

The name was first suggested by ESPNCricinfo journalist Andrew Miller after former New Zealand cricketer Brendon McCullum was appointed as the head coach in May last year. 'Baz' hence comes from the long-standing nickname for McCullum during his playing days, who himself was known for his aggressive brand of cricket.

But Bazball is not just about aggression or is a strategy that England follows. It is an approach that comes with a mindset that probably Jonny Bairstow best described as "freedom".

Faster scoring rates:

One of the scorecards to highlight this aspect is the Rawalpindi Test against Pakistan last December when England scored 506 runs for four wickets on Day 1 of the match with three batters - Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, and Harry Brook. It was the most runs scored by any team on the first day of a match in the history of Test cricket. And the scoring rate of 6.75 was the best ever as well. In fact, since the appointment of McCullum, England's strike rate of 77.06 is the highest during the period. And this fast-paced batting has resulted in batters going for unorthodox shots as well like Root executing the reverse ramp almost in each of his innings.

Aggressive fields and bowling changes: 

Former England captain Michael Atherton highlighted this aspect on Day 2 of the 1st Ashes Test when he was comparing Stokes with his Aussie counterpart in Pat Cummins. He said: "Every field change, every bowling change from Stokes is about how to get a wicket. Every change from Cummins yesterday was about how to stop runs. It's a fundamental shift."

On Saturday, when Stokes dismissed Steve Smith, it was the decisive moment in the match. But it was Travis Head's dismissal that drew more attention. Not for the manner of the dismissal, but for the aggressive captaincy of Stokes, who was willing to leak runs to get that wicket. He used Moeen Ali, who conceded seven boundaries by the batter, to get that wicket. Most skippers would not have gone for that sort of bold decision who had conceded 45 runs in his first six overs. Stokes brought the mid-on and mid-off up to trap Head into attacking Moeen again, but this time he fell into the trap.

Taking draw out of the equation:

The Birmingham Test is not the first instance of Stokes' brave declaration call. At the Oval earlier in February this year, in a Day/Night Test, England declared their first innings in the final hour of Day 1 given that the conditions for bowling are better in that hour. New Zealand eventually went three down at stumps. Atherton had later described it as proof of Stokes' "reputation as a captain unwilling to let the game stagnate or drift".

This aggressive approach has also made England among the best chasing sides. A glimpse of this was seen in Nottingham last year when the team scripted a record run chase against New Zealand. Stokes was later quoted as saying "The message just was run into the fear of what the game was rather than stand still or back away from it…I'll say it quite simply: we were either winning this game or losing it. That was the mentality that we wanted all the batsmen coming in to have…It's obviously paid off. When you have the backing of the coach and captain, it rubs off on the players in a very positive way. So you're not fearing failure. You're just going out and doing what you want to do."

Critics:

Earlier this year, veteran Indian bowler Ravichandran Ashwin criticised Bazball saying that it might not suit all conditions. He explained: "Certain types of wickets when you try and attack every ball, you will falter. There are both advantages and disadvantages to this approach. Sometimes, on the wicket, you need to respect the conditions."

Australia's Steve Smith too questioned the longevity of the approach and whether it is sustainable for green-top tracks with the likes of "Josh Hazlewood, Cummins and Starc are rolling in at you."

Next Article

Most wickets vs England in England for India in tests

Ishant Sharma has taken the most wickets vs England in England for India in tests. Kapil Dev, Jasprit Bumrah and a few other Indian legends follow him on the list.

May 25, 2025, 3:06 PM7 min read

Most wickets vs England in England for India in tests | sportzpoint.com

Indian bowlers, especially pacers, have always waited for the tour of England since it produces seam-friendly pitches, which help them get more wickets. From legends of yesteryears like Kapil to modern-day greats like Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah, they have had success in England against England. 

With another England tour forthcoming, we present you the list of bowlers with the most wickets vs England in England for India in tests. 

1. Ishant Sharma | 48 Wickets

Ishant Sharma has the most wickets vs England in England for India in tests | sportzpoint.com
Ishant Sharma during his 5-wicket haul against England in 2018. Image | Cricshots

Ishant Sharma has the most wickets vs England in England for India in tests. He is widely known for his pace and wicket-taking abilities. He took 48 wickets in 14 matches, with an economy of 3.29.

Ishant's ability to make the ball come in from a difficult length has worked well on English conditions. Moreover, his short-ball strategy during the 2014 series at Lord's helped India register a famous win in England.

Read Also: Most international wickets for India

Sharma's stats vs England in England

Span  Matches Innings Wickets Maidens Overs Economy Avg BBI BBM
2011-2021 14 22 48 98 495.3 3.29 34.00 7/74 7/135

2. Kapil Dev | 43 Wickets

Kapil Dev holds the second position for most wickets vs England in England for India in tests | sportzpoint.com
Kapil Dev in action against England in a test match. Image | ESPNcricinfo

The Indian legend, Kapil Dev, is the second-highest wicket-taker in the list with 43 wickets in 13 matches played. The former Indian captain has an exceptional record against England and dominated on their home soil throughout his career.

Kapil's incredible outswing always had the batters guessing and with his ability to clean up tails, also helped him get many wickets in those conditions.

Dev stats vs England in England

Span  Matches Innings Wickets Maidens Overs Economy Avg BBI BBM
1979-1990 13 22 43 129 563.1 2.99 39.18 5/125 8/168

3. Jasprit Bumrah | 37 Wickets

Jasprit Bumrah holds the third rank for most wickets vs England in England for India in tests | sportzpoint.com
Jasprit Bumrah celebrating a wicket in a test match vs ENG in 2021. Image | ESPNcricinfo

One of the most successful bowlers of this era, Jasprit Bumrah, climbed up the ladder really fast in his career. His finest skillset and ability to generate steep bounce and challenging seam movement with his unorthodox bowling action, got him 37 wickets in just 8 matches (15 innings) so far, and there's more to come in the future.

Read Also: Jasprit Bumrah becomes first-ever player to pick 200 Test wickets with an average below 20

Bumrah stats vs England in England

Span Matches Innings Wickets Maidens Overs Economy Avg BBI BBM
2018-2022 8 15 37 75 320.2 2.74 23.78 5/64 9/110

4. Anil Kumble | 36 Wickets 

Anil Kumble holds the fourth position for most wickets vs England in England for India in tests | sportzpoint.com
Anil Kumble celebrating a successful dismissal during his test career for India. Image | YouTube

Anil Kumble holds the fourth place for most wickets vs England in England for India in tests. He took 36 wickets in 10 matches, which is commendable for a spinner in such conditions.

Kumble was the senior-most bowler of the squad during that time, and was often described as bowling "faster" for a spinner, that too with high accuracy. His spin deliveries was considered to be as fast as a "jumbo jet."

Kumble's stats vs England in England

Span Matches Innings Wickets Maidens Overs Economy  Avg BBI BBM
1990-2007 10 19 36 113 524.5 2.84 41.41 4/66 7/159

5. Bishan Singh Bedi | 35 Wickets

Bishan Singh Bedi holds the fifth rank for most wickets vs England in England for India in tests | sportzpoint.com
Bishan Singh Bedi in action for India during his test career. Image | ESPNcricinfo

Bishan Singh Bedi is the one name that stands out while discussing the wicket-taking rate against England. Bedi's incredible stat as a spinner in pace bowling friendly conditions like England sets him apart from the rest.

He took 35 wickets in 12 matches (18 innings), with an economy less than 3. Bedi also has the highest number of maidens among all the players in this list.

Singh Bedi stats vs England in England

Span Matches Innings Wickets Maidens Overs Economy Avg BBI BBM
1967-1979 12 18 35 133 524.5 2.54 38.08 6/226 6/111

6. Mohammed Shami | 34 Wickets

Mohammed Shami holds the sixth position for most wickets vs England in England for India in tests | sportzpoint.com
Mohammed Shami playing against England in a test match in 2022. Image | Instagram

Mohammad Shami has a brilliant overseas record, and only a few Indian bowlers can be at the level with him. He has 34 wickets in 12 matches to his name, with an economy of 3.56.

Shami consistently hits challenging lengths, which makes him a wicket-taker against England batters. His unfortunate absence in the upcoming Test squad against England therefore became a point of concern for the fans.

Shami's status vs England in England

Span Matches Innings Wickets Maidens Overs Economy Avg BBI BBM
2014-2022 12 21 34 65 402.3 3.56 42.14 4/57 6/108

7. B. S. Chandrasekhar | 31 Wickets

B.S. Chandrashekhar holds the seventh position for most wickets vs England in England for India in tests | sportzpoint.com
B.S. Chandrashekhar in action for India during his test career. Image | Heritage Times

The wizard of leg spin, B.S. Chandrashekhar, makes his way up here with 31 wickets in 9 matches against England on their home soil. He had a phenomenal bowling figure in a match with 8 wickets (conceding 114 runs).

His most cherished performance against England came in the 1971 Oval Test, where he took 6 wickets for 38 runs, leading India to secure their first series victory on the English soil.

Read Also: Weird Styles: Indian players with unusual bowling actions

Chandrashekhar stats vs England in England

Span Matches Innings Wickets Maidens Overs Economy Avg BBI BBM
1967-1979 9 15 31 80 386.3 2.72 33.96 6/38 8/114

8. Zaheer Khan | 31 Wickets

Zaheer Khan holds the eighth position for most wickets vs England in England for India in tests | sportzpoint.com
Zaheer Khan celebrating a successful dismissal in a match against England in 2011. Image | Firstpost 

One of India's most celebrated pace bowlers, Zaheer Khan, holds the eighth position with 31 wickets in only 8 away matches vs England. The former left-arm pacer was one of the best for India during his era. 

Zaheer had made legends like Alastair Cook his bunny with his lethal outswingers, going away from Cook. He was the best of his time, who significantly enhanced India's bowling strength.

Khan's stats vs England in England 

Span Matches Innings Wickets Maidens Overs Economy Avg BBI BBM
2002-2011 8 14 31 81 296.5 2.92 27.96 5/75 9/134

9. Ravindra Jadeja | 22 Wickets

Ravindra Jadeja holds the ninth position for most wickets vs England in England for India in tests | sportzpoint.com
Ravindra Jadeja in action for India in a test match against England. Image | Instagram

Ravindra Jadeja, who is one of India's key all-rounders, holds the ninth position with 22 wickets in 10 matches. He is equally good with the bat as he is with spinning the ball for his nation.

Jadeja's ability to bowl long spells with variations, makes him a vital asset for the Indian team.

Read Also: Most Wickets for India in Test Cricket | Ravindra Jadeja overtakes Ishant Sharma’s tally

Jadeja stats vs England in England 

Span Matches Innings Wickets Maidens Overs Economy Avg BBI BBM
2014-2022 10 17 22 58 376.4 2.69 46.13 4/79 7/258

10. Vinoo Mankad | 20 Wickets

Vinoo Mankad holds the tenth position for most wickets vs England in England for India in tests | sportzpoint.com
Vinoo Mankad in action for India during his test career. Image | Cricket Times

Vinoo Mankad stands out from an early era. The former all-rounder truly made his mark on England soil by taking 20 wickets in just 6 matches

With his tight bowling and impeccable lengths, Mankad made the most out of the English conditions and proved why he was considered one of the best of his generation.

Mankad stats vs England in England 

Span Matches Innings Wickets Maidens Overs Economy Avg BBI BBM
1946-1952 6 9 20 108 312.5 2.16 33.90 5/101 7/146

11. Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan | 20 Wickets 

Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan holds the eleventh position for most wickets vs England in England for India in tests | sportzpoint.com
Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan in action for India during his cricket career. Image | Rediff

The eleventh name on the list, Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan, who also had success in the English conditions, took 20 wickets in 10 matches.

He was a valuable off-spinner for the team, known for his accuracy and control over the ball.

Venkataraghavan's status vs England in England 

Span Matches Innings Wickets Maidens Overs Economy Avg BBI BBM
1967-1979 10 16 20 66 317.3 2.58 41.05 4/52 6/96

Next Article

Most runs vs England in England for India in tests

Conquering English conditions is tough, but some Indian batsmen have mastered them. Find out the ones with most runs vs England in England for India in tests.

May 24, 2025, 2:22 PM5 min read

Most runs vs England in England for India in tests | sportzpoint.com

For any touring cricket team, England presents an unique challenge in Test cricket. It's a land where even most skilled players can struggle.

Far away from home, Indian cricketers have sincerely accepted this challenge and given a tough fight for many years. Discover which batting legends have mastered the game and scored the most runs vs England in England for India in tests.

1. Sachin Tendulkar | 1575 Runs

Sachin Tendulkar has the Most runs vs England in England for India in tests | sportzpoint.com
17-year-old Sachin Tendulkar after scoring his international maiden century against England in 1990. Image | ESPNcricinfo 

The 'Master Blaster' Sachin Tendulkar holds the unmatched record for most runs vs England in England for India in tests. He scored 1575 runs in 17 matches (30 innings) with an average above 54.

Tendulkar dominated the English soil with 4 hundreds and 8 fifties in his test career.

Read Also: Sachin vs Kohli: Stats Comparison in Test Cricket

Tendulkar stats vs England in England

Span Matches Innings Runs Highest  Avg 100 50
1990-2011 17 30 1575 193 54.31 4 8

2. Rahul Dravid | 1376 Runs

Rahul Dravid holds the second position in the list for most runs vs England in England for India in tests | sportzpoint.com
Rahul Dravid celebrating his century against England at The Oval in 2011. Image | Instagram

Rahul Dravid is another big name when it comes to legendary test batsmen from India. He holds impressive record against England which is hard to match in the long run for young Indian batters of the coming age.

Dravid scored 1376 runs in 13 matches, with his highest being a phenomenal 217 runs during India tour of England in 2002.

Dravid stats vs England in England

Span Matches Innings Runs

Highest

Avg

100

50

1996-2011 13 23 1376 217 68.80 6 4

3. Sunil Gavaskar | 1152 Runs

Sunil Gavaskar holds the third position for most runs vs England in England for India in tests | sportzpoint.com
Sunil Gavaskar during his knock of 221 runs against England at The Oval in 1979. Image | Facebook

Sunil Gavaskar is the third Indian batter to cross the 1000-run mark against England in England. The 'Little Master' scored 1152 runs in 16 matches during his Test career.

He scored 221 runs in 1979, which is the highest score ever by an Indian batsman against England in their own soil.

Gavaskar stats vs England in England

Span Matches Innings Runs Highest Avg 100 50
1971-1986 16 28 1152 221 41.14 2 8

4. Virat Kohli | 976 Runs

Virat Kohli holds the fourth position for most runs vs England in England for India in tests | sportzpoint.com
Virat Kohli celebrates his heroic century against England in 2018. Image | ESPNcricinfo

Here comes the most successful Test captain of India, Virat Kohli, securing the fourth position in this list. He surpassed many legendary test batters with his brilliant record against England in their home soil.

Kohli scored 976 runs in 15 matches, with 2 centuries and 5 fifties to his name. The numbers could soar higher if he had not retired from tests at the age of 36, in 2025.

Read Also: The Kohli Effect: Will Indian fans lose interest in Test cricket after Virat Kohli's retirement?

Kohli stats vs England in England

Span Matches Innings  Runs Highest Avg 100 50
2014-2022 15 29 976 149 33.65 2 5

5. Dilip Vengsarkar | 960 Runs

Dilip Vengsarkar holds the gifts position for most runs vs England in England for India in tests | sportzpoint.com
Dilip Vengsarkar in action against England at Lord's cricket ground in 1986. Image | Instagram

Dilip Vengsarkar is a gem of a player in the history of Indian Test cricket. He scored 960 runs in 13 matches (23 innings), with 157 being his highest score.

Vengsarkar scored 4 hundreds and 4 fifties during his tenure.

Vengsarkar stats vs England in England

Span Matches Innings Runs Highest Avg 100 50
1979-1990 13 23 960 157 48.00 4 4

6. Sourav Ganguly | 915 Runs

Sourav Ganguly holds the sixth position for most runs vs England in England for India in tests | sportzpoint.com
Sourav Ganguly celebrating his debut test ton against England in 1996. Image | TOI

Another successful captain in the history of Indian Test cricket, Sourav Ganguly, makes his way to the sixth rank in the list. He started his career with an iconic ton against England in 1996.

Ganguly scored a total of 915 runs in 9 matches (15 innings) vs England in England with an average above 65.

Read Also: Most successful Test captains from India

Ganguly stats vs England in England 

Span Matches Innings Runs Highest Avg 100 50
1996-2007 9 15 915 136 65.35 3 5

7. Gundappa Viswanath | 858 Runs

Gundappa Viswanath holds the seventh position for most runs vs England in England for India in tests | sportzpoint.com
Gundappa Viswanath in action against England in 1981. Image | ESPNcricinfo 

Gundappa Viswanath played a major role for India in Tests back in the 1970s. He scored 858 runs in 13 matches against England in England, with an average of 39.

Viswanath stats vs England in England 

Span Matches Innings Runs Highest Avg 100 50
1971-1982 13 24 858 113 39.00 1 9

8. Cheteshwar Pujara | 806 Runs

Cheteshwar Pujara holds the eighth rank for most runs vs England in England for India in tests | sportzpoint.com
Cheteshwar Pujara after scoring a century against England in 2018. Image | ESPNcricinfo

Cheteshwar Pujara's journey as a test batsman in the English soil was short-lived but great. He scored 806 runs in 14 matches, having one century and 5 fifties to his name.

Pujara stats vs England in England 

Span Matches Innings Runs Highest Avg 100 50
2014-2022 14 28 806 132* 31.00 1 5

9. MS Dhoni | 778 Runs

MS Dhoni holds the ninth position for most runs vs England in England for India in tests | sportzpoint.com
MS Dhoni in action against England in a test match. Image | BBC

Apart from excellent captaincy records, MS Dhoni also holds the ninth position for most runs vs England in England for India in tests. He scored 778 runs in 12 matches (23 innings).

Read Also: 16 Indian Cricketers with stands named after them at a stadium

Dhoni stats vs England in England

Span Matches Innings Runs Highest Avg 100 50
2007-2014 12 23 778 92 37.04 0 8

10. Ajinkya Rahane | 665 Runs

Ajinkya Rahane holds the tenth position for most runs vs England in England for India in tests | sportzpoint.com
Ajinkya Rahane celebrating his knock of 103 runs against England in 2014. Image | Instagram

Ajinkya Rahane is the tenth name in the elite list for most runs vs England in England for India in tests. He scored 665 runs in 14 matches, with a classy century and 5 half centuries to his name.

Rahane stats vs England in England 

Span Matches Innings Runs Highest Avg 100 50
2014-2021 14 27 665 103 25.57 1 5

Next Article

Every Test Captain of Indian Men's Test Cricket Team

Shubman Gill has been appointed as the new Test captain of the Indian Men's Test Cricket team for the five-Test series starting in England from June 20.

May 24, 2025, 8:57 AM4 min read

Every Test Captain of Indian Men's Test Cricket Team

Shubman Gill has been appointed as the new Test captain of the Indian Men's Test Cricket team for the five-Test series starting in England from June 20. Wicketkeeper batsman Rishabh Pant has been appointed as the vice-captain of the team.

Also Read: LIVE: Indian Test team announcement for England tour LIVE updates | Subhman Gill named captain; Nair, Sudharsan, Easwaran, Shardul in test squad

Gill will replace Rohit Sharma, who retired from the format in May due to poor form last season, especially in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.

Gill's Test career

Gill has played 32 Tests for India so far. He made his Test debut in the MCG Test on India's 2020-21 Australia tour. He has so far scored 1893 runs at an average of 35.05. There is a big difference between his average at home (42.03) and outside (27.53). The upcoming series will be Gill's first full tour.

He has also played two WTC Finals there in 2021 and 2023, and also played the fifth Test on the 2021 tour after it was postponed due to COVID-19.

India will start WTC 2025-27 cycle with five-Test series

India will start the 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle with a five-Test series against England. They are scheduled to play the first Test at Headingley (from June 20), the second Test at Edgbaston (from July 2), the third Test at Lord's (from July 10), the fourth Test at Old Trafford (from July 23) and the final Test at The Oval (from July 31).

Every Captain of Indian Men's Test Cricket Team

Since their first Test in 1932, India have witnessed 36 Test captains across 589 matches. CK Nayudu led India in their maiden Test match in 1932 against England. However, it was only 20 years later that India tasted their first Test victory under the captaincy of Vijay Hazare against England on February 10, 1952 at the M. A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Only five Indian captains – Mohammed Azharuddin, Sourav Ganguly, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma – have managed to notch up at least 10 Test victories. Kohli remains as India’s most successful Test captain, winning 40 of the 68 Tests he led in with a 58.82 success rate. Leading in 60 games between 2008-14, Dhoni is the second-most successful Test skipper for the country, winning 27 matches.

No. Captain Played Won Lost Drawn/Tied Win %
1 C. K. Nayudu 4 0 3 1 0
2 Maharajkumar of Vizianagram 3 0 2 1 0
3 Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi 3 0 1 2 0
4 Lala Amarnath 15 2 6 7 13.33
5 Vijay Hazare 14 1 5 8 7.14
6 Vinoo Mankad 6 0 1 5 0
7 Ghulam Ahmed 3 0 2 1 0
8 Polly Umrigar 8 2 2 4 25
9 Hemu Adhikari 1 0 0 1 0
10 Datta Gaekwad 4 0 4 0 0
11 Pankaj Roy 1 0 1 0 0
12 Gulabrai Ramchand 5 1 2 2 20
13 Nari Contractor 12 2 2 8 16.67
14 Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi 40 9 19 12 22.5
15 Chandu Borde 1 0 1 0 0
16 Ajit Wadekar 16 4 4 8 25
17 Srinivasaraghavan Venkataraghavan 5 0 2 3 0
18 Sunil Gavaskar 47 9 8 30 19.14
19 Bishan Singh Bedi 22 6 11 5 27.27
20 Gundappa Viswanath 2 0 1 1 0
21 Kapil Dev 34 4 7 23 11.76
22 Dilip Vengsarkar 10 2 5 3 20
23 Ravi Shastri 1 1 0 0 100
24 Krishnamachari Srikkanth 4 0 0 4 0
25 Mohammad Azharuddin 47 14 14 19 29.79
26 Sachin Tendulkar 25 4 9 12 16
27 Sourav Ganguly 49 21 13 15 42.86
28 Rahul Dravid 25 8 6 11 32
29 Virender Sehwag 4 2 1 1 50
30 Anil Kumble 14 3 5 6 21.42
31 Mahendra Singh Dhoni 60 27 18 15 45
32 Virat Kohli 68 40 17 11 58.82
33 Ajinkya Rahane 6 4 0 2 66.67
34 KL Rahul 3 2 1 0 66.67
35 Rohit Sharma 24 12 9 3 50
36 Jasprit Bumrah 3 1 2 0
37 Shubman Gill    --   --   --   --  --

Next Article

IPL 2025: Mumbai Indians makes additions to their squad with signings of Bairstow, Asalanka, and Richard Gleeson

As the IPL 2025 playoffs approach, Mumbai Indians have made strategic additions to their squad with the signings of Jonny Bairstow, Charith Asalanka, and Richard Gleeson.

May 20, 2025, 12:42 PM3 min read

IPL 2025: Mumbai Indians makes additions to their squad with signings of Bairstow, Asalanka, and Richard Gleeson

3 teams have made their place in the IPL 2025 playoffs and only one team is yet to be decided. There is a fierce battle going on between Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals for the remaining playoff spot. Meanwhile, Mumbai Indians have made a three new changes in their squad.

Mumbai has announced the replacement of three foreign players. The team has included Jonny Bairstow, Charith Asalanka, and Richard Gleeson in the squad in place of Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton, and Corbin Bosch. These three foreign players of Mumbai Indians are going to join their respective national teams after playing the last league match. In such a situation, the franchise had no other option but to bring their replacements.

Also Read: Can Shubman Gill or Sai Sudharsan break Kohli's record of most IPL runs in a single season?

Three replacement for MI

Mumbai Indians have included England's experienced wicketkeeper-batsman Jonny Bairstow in the team as a replacement for Will Jacks for Rs 5.25 crore. Bairstow has had good experience in IPL and is considered an aggressive batsman in the T20 format. His presence is expected to strengthen the top order batting of Mumbai Indians. 

At the same time, English fast bowler Richard Gleeson has been included in the team in place of Ryan Rickelton. Gleeson has been added to Mumbai Indians for Rs 1 crore. He has been signed by Mumbai Indians for Rs 1 crore. Gleeson's fast pace and ability to bowl yorkers in the death overs can prove to be important for the team.

Sri Lankan all-rounder Charith Asalanka has been included in the squad in place of Corbin Bosch for Rs 75 lakh. Asalanka can not only bat aggressively but can also give options to the team with his part-time off-spin bowling.

Also Read: IPL 2025 Playoffs Race: Who Will Claim the Final Spot?

IPL 2025 | Playoffs scenario

Mumbai Indians are currently in the playoff race. If the team qualifies for the next round, then these three new replacement players will be available for the team from the playoff matches. This will help the team to create balance and fill the gap of foreign players.

It is worth noting that Mumbai Indians have 2 matches left in the league stage. In one match, the team will face Delhi Capitals, while in its last league stage match, it will face the challenge of Punjab Kings. Punjab has already made its place in the IPL 2025 playoffs.

Next Article

Highest individual scores by players in IPL playoffs

From Shubman Gill's match-winning 129 off 60 balls to Sehwag and Watson's heroics. Discover the highest individual scores by players in IPL playoffs history.

May 18, 2025, 2:08 PM3 min read

Highest individual scores by players in IPL playoffs | sportzpoint.com

The intensity of IPL playoffs brings out extraordinary performances. Several players have set the bar high with their fearless batting skills and bagging those victories for the teams.

With the IPL 2025 playoffs approaching, it is the best time to examine the highest individual scores by players in the IPL playoffs.

Check out the full list of the highest individual scores by players in the IPL playoffs.

1. Shubham Gill (129 runs) | GT

Shubman Gill holds the first position in the list of highest individual scores by players in IPL playoffs | sportzpoint.com
Shubman Gill celebrating his century against MI in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2023. Image | ESPNcricinfo 

Shubham Gill shattered all the big batting records of IPL playoffs with his unbelievable knock of 129 runs off 60 balls against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2023 Qualifier 2.

His performance as an opening batsman took Gujarat Titans to a huge total of 233 runs, which they defended comfortably and booked their final berth.

This groundbreaking knock tops the chart for the highest individual scores by players in IPL playoffs.

Read Also: Most IPL Finals: Teams with most final appearances in IPL history

2. Virender Sehwag (122 runs) | PBKS

Virender Sehwag holds the second rank in the list of highest individual scores by players in IPL playoffs | sportzpoint.com
Virender Sehwag walking towards the dugout after his sensational knock in IPL 2014 Qualifier 2. Image | Instagram

Virender Sehwag's 122 runs off 58 balls against CSK was the long-standing record of the highest individual score in playoffs for 9 years.

This sensational knock in Qualifier 2 helped Punjab Kings reach the IPL final for the first time.

3. Shane Watson (117* runs) | CSK

Shane Watson holds the third position for highest individual scores by players in IPL playoffs | sportzpoint.com
Shane Watson celebrating his unbeaten 117 off 57 balls in IPL 2018 Final. Image | ESPNcricinfo 

The Australian legend, Shane Watson, holds the third position with his 117* runs from 57 balls against SRH in the IPL 2018 Final.

His phenomenal performance led the Chennai Super Kings to their third IPL victory.

Watson smashed 11 fours and 8 sixes, with a strike rate above 200.

Read Also: Safest hands: Most catches in IPL history

4. Wriddhiman Saha (115* runs) | PBKS

Wriddhiman Saha holds the 4th position in the list of highest individual scores by players in IPL playoffs | sportzpoint.com
Wriddhiman Saha playing a slog-sweep during his 115* off 55 balls in IPL 2014 Final. Image | ESPNcricinfo 

An incredible season for the boy of Bengal, Wriddhiman Saha, who dominated till the very end against KKR in the IPL 2014 Final. He scored an unbeaten 115 runs from just 55 balls and helped PBKS reach a defendable total. Saha's ton was the first ton ever scored in an IPL final.

Even though Kolkata Knight Riders pulled off a brilliant victory in that match, Saha's performance won the hearts of the fans!

5. Murali Vijay (113 runs) | CSK

Murali Vijay holds the 5th position in the list for highest individual scores by players in IPL playoffs | sportzpoint.com
Murali Vijay's celebration after scoring 113 runs off 58 balls in IPL 2012 Qualifier 2. Image | Pinterest 

Murali Vijay single-handedly took CSK to a humongous total in the Qualifier 2 of IPL 2012. His remarkable contribution of 113 runs from 58 balls made things easier for their team.

With this victory against Delhi Capitals, CSK headed towards the Final and Murali Vijay was rewarded player of the match.

Read Also: Most Sixes in an innings by an Indian in IPL

6. Rajat Patidar (112*) | RCB

Rajat Patidar holds the 6th position in the list for highest individual scores by players in IPL playoffs | sportzpoint.com
Rajat Patidar's match winning 112* runs against LSG in IPL 2022 Eliminator. Image | Reddif

Rajat Patidar has proven to be one of the impactful figures for Royal Challengers Bengaluru ever since his debut in 2021. He left a stellar lasting impression with his knock of 112* runs from 54 balls against LSG in IPL 2022 Eliminator.

His contribution was extremely crucial for the team as their batting line-up collapsed early in the first innings. However, RCB successfully defeated LSG to move ahead in the tournament, with credit to Patidar.

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