Mudhsuden Singh Panesar is the latest English sensation who has destroyed some formidable batting line-ups since he made his debut last year in India. He is in a Bishen Singh Bedi mould and has the potential to incapacitate batting line-ups that are known to play spin bowling the best.

Is this Indian Origin English Sardar good enough to beat the Indian willow? There are arguments on both sides of the track. Indians have traditionally played spin the best and have kept all leading spinners at bay. Shane Warne who is one of the best traditional leg spinners came a cropper against the Indians whenever he played against India. Success against India was like finding an oasis in the Sahara. The spin charmer, Muttiah Muralitharan, has left unforgettable memories in the minds of many great batsmen but does not have a great tally against India.

But, India have always surprised everyone including themselves. Beginning with the triumph in the 1983 World Cup to the shocking exit in the 2007 World Cup. The Indian team could be giving nightmares to people who bet on cricket. Indians tend to be callous and have known to take the opposition easy and have faced many humiliating defeats both at home and away. Against Monty, they could just fall like ten pins.

So the question of Monty devouring the Indians or the Indians making a curry of Monty cannot be answered until the end of the series and I am surely not betting on anyone.