Former England spinner Monty Panesar says that Indian skipper Virat Kohli will end up as the highest run-getter in the upcoming Test series against England.
Team India will lock horns against New Zealand in the final of the ICC World Test Championship and then later will take on England in the five-match Test series.
Going into England, Indian skipper Virat Kohli’s form would be vital for Team India. The Indian skipper however has a below-par record in England’s conditions. The swashbuckling batsman has 727 runs at an average of 36.35, including two centuries
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During his first tour to England in 2014, which he calls the worst phase of his career, Virat Kohli scored just 135 runs at an average of 13.40 in five Tests.
However, in 2018 Virat Kohli set the stage on fire when India toured England as he scored 593 runs from 10 innings at an average of 59.30.
In an interaction with India today, former England spinner Monty Panesar said that watching Virat Kohli vs James Anderson would be intense. He added that the Indian skipper will have great summer and will end up as the highest run-getter.
“Oh, it will be a treat to watch. Two greats of the game going against each other in the toughest format of the game. The battle will be intense. I believe Kohli will again have a great series and will end up the highest run-getter," Monty Panesar told India Today.
While talking about the World Test championship final Panesar said that in overcast conditions Kane Williamson-led New Zealand will have edge over Team India but if the game went today four or five then Virat Kohli-led side will have a great chance of winning the final.
“If there will be an overcast condition then Kane Willamson-led New Zealand will have an upper edge, but at the same time the Ageas Bowl has a great drainage system, and if weather permits and the game went on to Day four or five, India would have a great chance to win the championship," he said.
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Monty Panesar further said that ICC would want the final to go till Day 5 so he doubts that it’ll be a green top.
“What I see, ICC would love to see the final going into the final day. I doubt it will be a green top,” he concluded.
The WTC final will be played between 18th-22nd June at Rose Bowl, Southampton while the five-Test series between England and India will start from 4th August.
(INDIA TV inputs)
