Panesar heads 'home' to Mohali

England [ Images ] spinner Monty Panesar [ Images ] will receive a warm welcome to his home from home when he plays in the second Test against India [ Images ].

Panesar, 23, became the first Sikh player to play for England in the drawn first Test and Mohali is in the state of Punjab [ Images ], birthplace of his parents.

"I don't know how many friends and family will be coming to watch the Test but certainly quite a few," the Northamptonshire bowler said.

"It's very nice to be playing a Test match in the state where my family comes from but my main focus will have to be the cricket and trying to help England.

"This is a place where a lot of Sikh people are from but I still miss home as well."

His grandparents live in the commercial city of Jalandhar [ Images ], about 90 km from Mohali, and will be in the stands with his father Paramjit and mother Gursharan to watch Panesar play.

Jalandhar is also the hometown of Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh [ Images ].

Panesar made an impressive debut in Nagpur, claiming three wickets and displaying excellent control.

He took the prized scalp of Sachin Tendulkar [ Images ] first up before bowling captain Rahul Dravid [ Images ] and Mohammad Kaif.

TENDULKAR SOUVENIR

Tendulkar, trapped leg before for 16, presented his autographed bat to Panesar as a souvenir.

"I was nervous in that first match - it's Test cricket and I have always dreamed of playing for England," Panesar said.

"But the rest of the players were incredibly supportive and this tour has been a fantastic experience so far and really exciting.

"The crowds too are very passionate about the game here, they see cricket as a religion. It's a bit strange when they start calling my name but it's a nice experience."

Andrew Flintoff [ Images ] praised the bowler for easing his burden as captain -- the all-rounder is leading the side in the absence of injured captain Michael Vaughan [ Images ] and deputy Marcus Trescothick [ Images ].

"When you get Monty coming on, he knows exactly how he wants to bowl and what fields he wants to bowl to, so a lot of it was taken out of my hands," he said.