virat kohli sanjay manjrekar

Sanjay Manjrekar pointed at India’s major weaknesses ahead of the T20 World Cup, which included a subdued Virat Kohli in the knockouts, a lack of all-rounders, and the omission of young talents in crucial spots.

India’s lack of depth in all-rounders for major ICC events has come under scrutiny once again. Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar highlighted this concern, contrasting India with Australia’s abundance of all-rounders like Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, and Cameron Green.

“Lack of all-rounders is a bit of a weakness for Team India. The inclusion of Shivam Dube is an attempt to address this limitation,” Manjrekar said in the Star Sports Press Room.

Manjrekar expressed his worry that the new “impact substitute” rule in the IPL could exacerbate the issue. With teams relying heavily on specialist bowlers and batters, the T20 World Cup might necessitate adjustments, requiring players to contribute with both bat and ball.

Manjrekar also raised concerns about Virat Kohli’s batting approach during high-pressure matches. He pointed to Kohli’s 50 off 40 balls against England in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final, a match India eventually lost. Manjrekar suggested that Kohli’s focus on anchoring the innings during crucial games might hinder his ability to accelerate when needed.

“The only worry is that come the big game (semis and final), Virat will take it upon himself. He feels obligated to bat longer due to his stature rather than bat freely. Rohit Sharma will do that (bat freely), no matter his stature. I’m worried about Virat Kohli when it comes to semis and finals,” added Manjrekar.

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Sanjay Manjrekar also criticised the Indian selection committee’s choice to prioritise experienced players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli over younger talents. He believes this limits team flexibility, forcing a specific batting order with two right-handed openers (Sharma and Kohli) and potentially sidelining promising youngsters like Yashasvi Jaiswal. Manjrekar advocated for a more youthful squad with fresh talents, expressing doubts about the effectiveness of relying on senior players who have not yielded success in the past.

“Ideally, I would not have gone that way (selecting senior players over youngsters). I would have stuck with a slightly younger core set of players. But the selectors have committed themselves to the icons. India has trusted the seniors, a move that hasn’t worked over the years. Let’s hope it works this time,” concluded the commentator.

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Last Updated on June 1, 2024