XtraTime Web Desk: India opener Rohit Sharma has revealed the names of four contemporary fast bowlers who he found the most challenging to face. In a insta live chat with teammate Mohammad Shami, Rohit revealed the names of Brett Lee, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada and Josh Hazzlewood as the four bowlers who has been the most intimidating.
The flamboyant batsman from Mumbai was asked By Shami to reveal the most difficult bowler he has faced in his career so far. He shared the same names during the chat show Cricket Connected on Star Sports where he was joined by former India bowler Irfan Pathan and Brett Lee.
Rohit shared how he spent sleepless night on his first tour to Australia in 2007. He was constantly thinking about ways to tackle the pace of Lee who used to constantly bowl in excess of 150 mph then.
“In 2007, Brett Lee was at his peak. I used to watch him closely and noticed that he was consistently bowling at the speed of around 150-155 kmph. The thought of a youngster like me facing that kind of speed took away my sleep,” Rohit said in Star Sports ‘Cricket Connected’.
He also disclosed his difficulty about facing former Proteas fast bowler Dale Steyn
“I never wanted to face Steyn because playing pace and swing at the same time was a nightmare, it was just unreal,” said Rohit.
From the current generation, Rohit picked Kagiso Rabada and Josh Hazelwood as the most intimidating.
According to Rohit, “Currently, someone whom I don’t want to face in Test cricket would be Josh Hazlewood because he’s disciplined and does not move away from that length. He does not give you loose balls. I have watched him enough to understand that. I know for a fact that if I have to go to Australia to place a Test, then I have to be mentally prepared to be disciplined while facing Josh.”