England pacer Mark Wood has picked Rohit Sharma as the most difficult Indian player he has bowled to in his career so far, saying his bat gives the impression of "getting just wider" when in full flow. Wood, who has missed the intensely-fought five-match Test series against India at home due to a knee injury, is targeting a return to action with Durham in the County Championship in September ahead of the Ashes series this winter.

Speaking on The Overlap Cricket podcast, Wood gave his view on who have been the hardest batters he has faced while playing against India. "Yeah, in different stages of my career, I would say Rohit Sharma. Difficult because against the short ball, you feel like you, for myself, I`ve got a chance of getting him out, but also if he`s on that day, he smokes it.

"So, he was difficult. I always felt like his bat was big, just kept getting wider," Wood said. Wood, one of the fastest bowlers in recent years with an ability to consistently bowl in excess of 145 kmph, also rates Virat Kohl and Rishabh Pant highly. "Kohli, obviously. Unbelievable competitor, someone that I felt you have this weakness of fourth, fifth stump, drag him in. We seem to never miss him when I bowl him there. So, that was difficult," he said.