Sanjay Manjrekar has urged Rohit Sharma to avoid using T20-style tactics in Test cricket
Former India opener Sanjay Manjrekar criticized a questionable decision during the final innings of the Pune Test and urged Rohit Sharma to avoid using T20-style tactics in Test cricket, stressing the need for a different strategy in the longest format.
Manjrekar shared his thoughts on ESPNcricinfo after India’s 113-run loss to New Zealand in the second Test at the MCA Stadium. The defeat ended India’s 12-year unbeaten streak in home test series. Despite Yashasvi Jaiswal’s determined 77-run effort, India’s batting line-up crumbled on Day 3 as it chased a target of 359.
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To keep a pair of left-right batsmen in the crease, Washington Sundar was sent in to bat ahead of Sarfaraz Khan after Rishabh Pant was run out. But Sanjay Manjrekar was not happy with captain Rohit Sharma’s decision to send Sundar ahead of Sarfaraz.
“India backed themselves up, batted first, but 46 is still a problem. It should have been a complete 180 degree turn, the series would have played out differently. But I would say this, that move of making Sarfaraz Khan down the order and sending Washington Sundar over him because he is left-footed, that kind of thing should not happen. It’s just strange. That is something Rohit Sharma has to be careful about,” Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo.
“The T20 type of thinking, like those match-ups, has to be based on the overall quality of the players,” he added.
Sanjay Manjrekar praises Gambhir for Washington Sundar’s selection in the playing XI
Sanjay Manjrekar also said that coach Gautam Gambhir should not be blamed for the defeat as the coach has limited influence on the team’s performance. However, he praised Gambhir for selecting Washington Sundar in the playing XI.
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“I will continue to maintain that the coach has the least influence on a team. He doesn’t set foot on land, the captain rules out there. But he must be applauded for the selection of Washington Sundar, which was an immediate success,” Manjrekar said.
India’s series loss to New Zealand has made their road to the World Test Championship (WTC) final more challenging. The third and final Test against New Zealand will begin on November 1 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. This match is very important for India as their chances of reaching the WTC final are still at stake. To keep those hopes alive, India must win this game.
After the Mumbai Test, India will face Australia in a five-match Test series next month. Including the upcoming match in Mumbai, India have six critical games left and to keep their final WTC hopes alive, they must win at least four of them.
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