England fast bowler Mark Wood has revealed that India batter Rohit Sharma stands out as the most challenging batter he has faced in his career. The 35-year-old pacer, who is renowned for his ability to consistently bowl at speeds in excess of 145 kmph, recalled how Rohit’s command against the short ball made him particularly difficult to dismiss. “Rohit Sharma was difficult because against the short ball, you feel like, for myself, I’ve got a chance of getting him out, but also if he’s on that day, he smokes it. So, he was difficult. I always felt like his bat was big, just kept getting wider,” Wood said.
Wood also mentioned Virat Kohli as another batter who tested him to the limit. “Kohli, of course, unbelievable competitor. He seemed to have this weakness of fourth, fifth stump. He never seemed to miss when I bowled him there though,” he remarked with a chuckle. Both Rohit and Kohli announced their retirements from Test cricket earlier this year in May, shortly before the start of India’s home series against England, marking the end of an era for the hosts in the longest format. Wood, meanwhile, has been sidelined for the past six months due to a knee injury picked up during the Champions Trophy in February. His last Test appearance came more than a year ago against Sri Lanka in Manchester. Despite his time away, the right-arm quick remains an important figure in England’s long-term plans, with his name firmly in their strategy for the Ashes, scheduled to begin in Australia later this year.
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Wood has previously been part of England’s victorious campaigns in the 2019 ODI World Cup and the 2022 T20 World Cup, and continues to balance county duties with franchise stints.
