England's Bazball approach took a hit during the 2025 India tour, revealing flaws in the strategies of Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum. Although England leads the series 2-1, the close results raise doubts about the long-term tactics.

India beat England by 336 runs in the second Test at Birmingham, with Shubman Gill leading the team and winning Player of the Match. This win highlighted India's ability to counter England's aggressive tactics through disciplined bowling and smart fielding.

The third Test at Lord revealed the weaknesses of Bazball. England defeated India by 22 runs, with Joe Root making 104 and Jasprit Bumrah taking 5-74. The close victory demonstrated that this risky style is determined by small margins. The unpredictability of aggressive cricket was seen when India lost 387 to 170 despite Ravindra Jadeja scoring 61.

The fourth Test saw India make a great escape with centuries from Gill, Washington Sundar, and Jadeja. England's failure to take advantage of strong positions shows the tactical inflexibility critics say weakens Bazball's effectiveness.

Recent analysis reveals troubling statistics for England under the McCullum-Stokes era. A comprehensive study shows a 26% home-away performance gap, exposing Bazball as potentially flawed when tested in challenging overseas conditions.

According to ESPNCricinfo, the bowling tactics have faced scrutiny after the retirements of James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Managing bowling without these veterans has been a challenge for Stokes and McCullum. India’s batsmen, including KL Rahul, have taken advantage of this transition, with Rahul scoring key centuries under pressure.

India's tactical approach has stayed steady throughout the series. Though they struggled with tactics and selection depth in Manchester, as ESPNCricinfo noted, their ability to adjust mid-series shows greater strategic flexibility than England's strict focus on aggressive play.

The current series shows that Bazball brings excitement and some big wins but lacks the strategic depth needed for steady success against a tactically strong team like India. As the tour ends, doubts remain about England sticking to this style when facing similar tough opponents in the future.