Trent Boult Was Hitting Rohit Sharma On Pads And Telling Him 'That's Going To Happen In The WTC Final' - Shane Bond Reveals Banter Between The Mumbai Indians Duo

Former New Zealand fast bowler, Shane Bond, who is also the bowling coach at the Mumbai Indians, reveals the funny banter Rohit Sharma and Trent Boult have had during their nets session while practising in the IPL 2021.

The pair is set to face off each other in the WTC final from June 18 in Southampton. Shane Bond says that both Rohit Sharma and Trent Boult were imagining themselves having a go at each other in the marquee clash.

He reveals that Boult, a conventional opening swing bowler, was moving the ball and hitting it on the pads of Rohit Sharma and telling him how similarly he will dismiss the Indian opener.

“What I do know is that even during the IPL, Trent Boult was running in and swinging the ball and hitting him [Rohit Sharma] on the pad and telling him ‘that’s going to happen in the WTC final’,” Shane Bond said in a virtual press conference organized by Star Sports,

“They were already talking about it months in advance which was just brilliant. They were very aware, those two, that they were going to come up against each other.

“I can’t wait for that battle, the Boult-Sharma battle with all the banter that has been going on and I am expecting a few smiles between the boys as well, which will be fun to watch,” he added.

I see Rohit Sharma as a Matthew Hayden type of player: Shane Bond

Shane Bond opines that Rohit Sharma, who has taken a liking to open in Test cricket, is very similar to former Australia great Matthew Hayden in terms of their approach to batting at the top of the order. He cites the example of the recent home series against England, where Rohit Sharma took the attack to the bowlers even on difficult batting surfaces and will be looking to do the same in the WTC final.

“I love Rohit Sharma as a player. I almost see him as a Matthew Hayden type of player. He goes out, as he did in the series against England on very difficult pitches, and imposes himself,” he added.

“He could come out and score very quick runs. He is dynamic and in difficult conditions, like Rishabh Pant, who can take the game away from the opposition very quickly even when New Zealand are bowling with the new ball.

“With the field up, being a natural stroke maker sort of suits him when the ball is hard. There are obviously some areas in the game that New Zealand can look to exploit, but what he does is score fast. If he can score fast and put runs on the board, that instantly puts pressure on the bowling group,” Bond opined.

Also Read: India’s 15-Member Squad Announced For WTC Final 2021