IND vs ENG 2024: “He’s the Don Bradman of turning pitches” – Monty Panesar hails Rohit Sharma’s batting against spin

Former England spinner Monty Panesar has lauded Rohit Sharma’s batting against spinners, stating he is the Don Bradman of turning pitches. Rohit has an immaculate Test record while playing in the home conditions and he is going to hold the key for the hosts in the upcoming five-match Test series against England while batting at the top of the order.

Rohit has amassed 2002 runs in 16 Test matches in the Indian conditions at an impressive average of 66.73, including eight centuries and six fifties with the best score of 212.

Meanwhile, Rohit had scored 345 runs in four Test matches at an average of 57.50 when England last toured India in 2021.

“Indian batters are attacking against the turning ball. They are a bit more fearless. The key man for India is going to be Rohit Sharma. He’s the Don Bradman of turning pitches. His record is unbelievable. England have to get Rohit out early right through to have a chance of winning the Test series. If England can keep Rohit quiet, India will be going to Plan B. You then put the younger batters under pressure. That is going to be key,” said Panesar while speaking to Hindustan Times.

On the other hand, Panesar also lauded Indian veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. The veteran off-spinner had snared 32 wickets in four Test matches against England in 2021 in the favorable home conditions. Panesar said Ashwin is like an app, that gets updated every six months.

“He has had the mindset to keep adapting and bowling different deliveries. He has kept getting better. It’s not easy all the time to take a lot of wickets on turning pitches. He’s been given turners at home, but you can see the way he adapts all the time. He’s like an app, he keeps updating every six months! That’s what he has done through his career,” said Panesar.

He added: “I always find that I am a student when it comes to Ashwin’s bowling. I feel I am continually learning something new about his bowling. That’s the asset Ashwin is. He is a brilliant bowler.”

The first Test match between India and England will be played in Hyderabad from January 25.