'See him playing Matthew Hayden type role': Bond's huge praise for India opener ahead of WTC final
Hayden was renowned for his dominating style of batting in Test cricket that gave Australia a head-start more often than not even in adverse batting conditions. Bond said Rohit can do the same thing for India in Test cricket.
Former New Zealand pacer Shane Bond heaped praise on India opener Rohit Sharma and said he expects the right-hander to play the role Matthew Hayden played for Australia at the top of the order for a number of years.
Hayden was renowned for his dominating style of batting in Test cricket that gave Australia a head-start more often than not even in adverse batting conditions.
Bond said Rohit can do the same thing for India in Test cricket. “I just love Rohit Sharma, I see him playing a Matthew Hayden type of role," said Bond.
Rohit is set to open the batting for India in the WTC final against New Zealand starting on June 18 at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton.
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Bond, who has spent a lot of time with Rohit as part of the Mumbai Indians set-up in the IPL, said Rohit can take the game away by imposing himself on the opposition.
"He goes out as he did against England earlier this year, he imposes himself, he is dynamic and he can score pretty quickly. He can take the game away in one hour, batting at the top of the order suits him, if he scores fast, it instantly puts pressure on the bowling attack,” Bond said.
Rohit will be up against his Mumbai Indians teammate and New Zealand pace spearhead Trent Boult in the WTC final. The left-arm seamer has historically had an upper hand over the Indian opener, especially with his in-dippers that has often brought about the downfall of Rohit.
Bond shared an interesting anecdote from the MI nets in which he said that Boult used to tease Rohit after hitting his pads.
"What I do know, even during the IPL, Boult was running in and hitting the pads of Rohit, telling him that this is what is going to happen in the WTC final. This was just brilliant, those two were aware that they are going to come up against each other,” he said.
Bond said he will look forward to the Rohit vs Bond battle in the WTC final.
I cannot wait for the battle between Boult and Rohit. I am expecting to see few smiles between the guys as well," he added.