Former New Zealand speed merchant Shane Bond doesn’t want Indian opener Rohit Sharma to have a great game against Kane Williamson & Co. in the final of the ICC World Test Championship at the Rose Bowl, Southampton. Bond, who is the bowling coach of Indian Premier League (IPL) team – Mumbai Indians (MI) shares a good camaraderie with franchise superstars Rohit and Jasprit Bumrah. Before the start of the day’s play at Southampton, Bond opened up about the bond he shares with MI stars Rohit and Bumrah. 

The Mumbai Indians bowling coach and pace great talked about texting MI stars Bumrah and Rohit when they are on national duty for the Virat Kohli-led side. Crediting the IPL for having friends all over the world in different teams, Bond also came up with a special request for Rohit and Bumrah before the start of the Test Championship final. The former New Zealand pacer wants the Mumbai Indian skipper to ‘save some runs’ for the remainder of the IPL 2021. 

“That’s what I love, messaging Rohit and Jasprit when they are playing different series around the world and having that relationship with him is cool. I love that about the game that you have friends all over the world in different teams doing well,” Bond told The Times of India Sportscast.

Bond then wished that Rohit doesn’t have a ‘great game’ against New Zealand in the Test Championship final at Southampton

“I hope he doesn’t have a great game coming up (chuckles) because he’s one of the big weapons and same with Rohit, I don’t want him to get any runs, he can save them up for September-October when we get back together again,” Bond added. Rohit has been India’s go-to-man in the inaugural edition of the World Test Championship. Nicknamed the Hitman, the Indian opener had smashed 1030 runs in India’s road to the Test Championship final.