Overview

• Wood singled out Rohit Sharma as the most difficult opponent, saying short balls can either draw a chance or get "smoked" and that Rohit's bat felt like it "kept getting wider."
• He called Virat Kohli an unbelievable competitor and said the fourth- or fifth-stump line can tempt him, though Wood found it hard to capitalize consistently.
• On Rishabh Pant, Wood said bowlers must hold their nerve and mix in surprises like slower balls, high bouncers or yorkers to counter his unpredictability and sharp eye.
• Wood also mentioned Steve Smith and Mitchell Marsh among his toughest, selections that could set up battles in the 2025–26 Ashes later this year.
• The comments come as Wood works back from knee surgery with a targeted September return for Durham before the Ashes, while Pant is recovering from a fractured foot that ruled him out of the Asia Cup.