England fast bowler Mark Wood, famous for his pace that regularly touches 145 kmph and beyond, recently shared his thoughts on bowling to some of India’s greatest cricketers. Speaking on a podcast, Mark Wood admitted that Virat Kohli has always been one of the toughest opponents he has faced. While he pointed out that Virat Kohli can sometimes be vulnerable around the fourth and fifth stump line, he also described the former Indian captain as an “unbelievable competitor” who rarely allows bowlers to settle.
Virat Kohli’s numbers in Test cricket reflect his remarkable consistency. In 123 matches and 210 innings, he has scored 9,230 runs, including 30 centuries, 31 half-centuries and seven double centuries. With a highest score of 254 and an average of 46.85, he has cemented his place as one of the greatest ever Test batsmen of India. His ability to play big innings and dominate in different conditions has made him a constant challenge for bowlers across the world.
Mark Wood also spoke about Rohit Sharma, describing him as another batter who has made life extremely difficult for fast bowlers. According to Mark Wood, Rohit can be troubled with the short ball but when he is in rhythm, he plays it with ease and punishes bowlers with his wide array of strokes. Wood humorously added that at times it feels like Rohit’s bat keeps “getting wider”, making him almost impossible to dismiss when he is set.
Both Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have stepped away from Test cricket and T20 internationals, though they continue to represent India in the ODI format. Their absence from the longest format has marked the end of an era but their influence on the game remains strong.
Another name that stood out for Mark Wood was Rishabh Pant who he believes is one of the most unpredictable batters in the world. Mark Wood explained that Pant’s fearless style forces bowlers to constantly adapt, mixing up deliveries with slower balls, yorkers or bouncers to prevent him from taking control. Rishabh Pant’s ability to hit the ball anywhere makes him particularly dangerous in pressure situations.
Mark Wood himself missed the recent five-match Test series between India and England due to a knee injury. He is now working towards a comeback with Durham in the County Championship this September, keeping an eye on being fully fit for the Ashes later in the year.
