"We saw very much with Virat Kohli"- Monty Panesar says Joe Root can follow Indian batter's retirement path if he fails in Australia

Monty Panesar said that Joe Root will face a challenge against Australia’s strong bowling unit.

Former England spinner Monty Panesar feels that Joe Root can face a similar fate like Virat Kohli if he fails to perform in The Ashes 2025-26. Notably, Kohli announced his retirement from test cricket after a poor outing in Australia during Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25.

England and Australia are set to clash in The Ashes 2025-26 from November. Root will be a crucial batter for his team during the campaign. For the last few years, the right-handed batsman has held an incredible form in test cricket.

Recently, Root became the second-highest run-scorer in test cricket. In Australia, the 34-year-old has played 14 tests and scored 892 runs at an average of 35.68. He has scored nine half-centuries but is yet to score a century in Australia.

Joe Root will have to perform in Australia – Monty Panesar

During a conversation with IndiaToday, Panesar said that Root will have to perform in the Ashes; otherwise, he could face a fate like Kohli.

“It really depends how next year goes for him, how the Ashes go, we saw very much with Virat Kohli, right? He went to Australia and he just didn’t know what to do with that ball outside 4th, 5th stump. I think that kind of led to his decision, or a collective decision for him to retire,” he said.

“And yeah, if Joe Root doesn’t have a good Ashes series and it goes really bad for him. Suddenly all it takes one series and you look, it’s a different ball game altogether. So it’s very important when you go to Australia, doesn’t matter how good you are, you’ve got to perform in Australia,” he added.

Panesar also feels that Root will face a tough challenge against the Australian bowling attack. However, he also said that the England batter would aim to score a century during the series.

“It’s going to be very difficult for him because he’s going to be facing a strong Australian attack, and this is probably one of the strongest bowling attacks we’ve seen. But the form he’s shown, and the runs he’s scoring, he would probably want to score 100,” he said.

“I’m sure there will be one of those Test matches, where the wicket isn’t so bouncy, there’s not so much pace in it, possibly at Adelaide or, even in Melbourne, depending on the conditions. Well he’s got a chance, but anything a bit bouncy or quick, I think, it’d be, it’d be a little bit difficult for him,” he added.

Meanwhile, The Ashes 2025-26 will begin on November 21 with the opening game in Perth. The fifth and final test will be played from January 4-8, 2026 in Sydney. It will be the second test series for both teams in ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2025-27.

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