Former England spinner Monty Panesar praised India’s performance in the recent Test series against England, highlighting Shubman Gill’s leadership as a key factor. Panesar said the series, which ended in a 2-2 draw, saw India play better cricket overall, especially in the final match at The Oval. He commended Gill’s growth as a captain and batsman, noting that India can now win Test matches even without star bowler Jasprit Bumrah—a significant achievement. Panesar emphasized the importance of Mohammed Siraj, saying he is now the key bowler for India in overseas Tests, given Bumrah’s fitness issues.
Panesar also discussed the future of Indian cricket, suggesting that players like Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar could be crucial in the spin department after the retirements of veterans like Ashwin and Jadeja. Regarding Joe Root, Panesar confidently predicted that the English batsman will break Sachin Tendulkar’s record for most Test runs, estimating Root could finish with around 18,000 runs.
Finally, Panesar noted that Australia remains the favorite in upcoming series due to their strong bowling attack, while England will need to be more consistent in scoring to compete effectively. He suggested England may need to tone down their aggressive “Bazball” style, especially in Australia.
