IND vs ENG 1st Test: Monty Panesar terms this Indian player as biggest threat to England | Exclusive Interview

"I think Rohit Sharma is the key wicket"- says Panesar. India will be playing their first Test match against England on 25 January in Hyderabad

Team India will be playing a five-match Test series against England, where Rohit Sharma will be looking forward to guide India towards a series win, while the visitors will try to put their strong foot forward and make it tough for India to clinch the series at home.

Monty Panesar believes Rohit Sharma to be the biggest threat to England

When Panesar was asked about his expectation from the the five match Test Series, he clearly stated that “If it comes down to Ben Stokes’s captaincy and also if they can get Rohit Sharma out early because if he gets out early it will put a pressure on the way Virat Kohli bats because he can’t be so attacking, the ball will be swinging, it will be turning hard quickly.”

Panesar believes that getting Sharma’s wicket early can only put England in a dominant position or else the Men in Blue have a good chance to win the series

“I think Rohit Sharma is the key wicket if they get him out early in the first innings of every Test match when India bats I think then England got a good chance.”

Watch the exclusive interview here:

Schedule for the Test Series against England

The first Test between India and England will be held at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad from January 25 to 29. The action then shifts to the Dr. Y.S. Rajashekar Reddy ACA-VDCA International Cricket Stadium in Vizag for the second Test, which runs from February 2 to 6.

The third Test is scheduled for February 15-19 at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot, followed by the fourth Test on February 23-27 at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi. The series will conclude with the 5th Test, which will be played at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in the scenic city of Dharamsala from March 7 to 11.

Virat Kohli’s absence in the first two Test matches is a huge blow for India

BCCI recently informed that Virat Kohli has withdrawn from the first two Test matches due to ‘personal reasons’, this came as a shocker for all the fans. India will be looking forward to name a potential replacement for Virat Kohli in India’s Test squad and try to fill the void. While England will be eyeing to take full advantage in gaining a strong hold of the series with India’s key player Virat being out of the first two matches.

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