Shoaib Bashir Will Be On Top Against Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill - Monty Panesar Warns India

Former left-arm off-spinner Monty Panesar who was a part of the English team that last won a Test series in India has claimed that England’s latest entrant into the team, 20-year-old right-arm off-break spinner Shoaib Bashir is set to have a successful first ever tour to the sub-continent nation when the 5-match Test series begins from January 25.

Monty Panesar feels that England will definitely benefit from the inclusion of Shoaib Bashir on the red-soil spin-friendly Indian pitches. Panesar claimed that the youngster will have a dreamy track in India to bowl on and he will get the better of batters like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Shubman Gill among others.

Definitely for any visiting team in India, their spin battery matters a lot. Indian pitches are known for its spin-friendly nature and the cracks that appear on the tracks make it even easier for spinners to capitalize on. Perhaps that is the reason why Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, and Ravichandran Ashwin among other spinners have been so successful here.

If England are to register their first Test series win here since 2012, their spinning attack will have to be at its best. And Monty Panesar has made an admission on Shoaib Bashir that his line-length and high arm action will drag Indian batters forward and force them to play their shots and make a mistake.

“I believe he (Shoaib Bashir) is the one whom we should have an eye on, and he will surely be a trouble for the Indian batters. The Indian red-soil turning track will be a dream pitch for him. I have met him a few times in England and watched him closely believe me, he has some exceptional talents. With his high-arm action, he will drag the batsman forward or will force them to cut with a slip and gully,” Monty Panesar said.

Shoaib Bashir Will Force Kohli And Gill To Make Mistakes

Monty Panesar further claimed that the Surrey-born off-spinner will force Virat Kohli and Shubman Gill to make mistakes and he will exploit their tendency of playing drive shots to his advantage. Shoaib Bashir who represents Somerset in England’s county cricket made his first class debut only last year and has 10 wickets to his name in 6 matches with a best bowling match figures of 6/155.

“He will be on the top against Virat Kohli and Shuhman Gill who have the same nature of play, They love to play drive the ball and that is where he (Bashir) will be a problem to them. With the same pitch, he can bring the ball back to wicket from outside off and also with attacking slip he will force them to do the error,” Monty Panesar concluded. 

Meanwhile, the 5-match Test series kicks off in Hyderabad on January 25th followed by the 2nd Test at Vishakhapatnam on February 2nd after which the series will head to the Western side of the country in Saurashtra for the 3rd Test from Feb 15th.

The final 2 Tests will take place in Jharkhand and Himachal Pradesh on February 23rd and March 7th respectively.