Absence of this player will be a big reason: Manjrekar ahead of IND vs ENG
One of the most important aspects for India was to take a 2-1 lead in the Test series against England in 2021, with the fifth and final Test being rescheduled for July this year because of the Covid-19 outbreak in the spectators’ camp. There was a fear of an outbreak. Openers KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma.
Sharma was India’s top run-scorer with 368 runs in four matches, including fifties at Lord’s and Headingley and 127 in the second innings of the Fourth Test at The Oval. Rahul, on the other hand, scored 315 in the first innings at Lord’s with an impressive 129, becoming one of the main architects for a famous victory.
But this time, with Sharma returning to England with the captaincy on his shoulders, Rahul is unavailable for the Edgbaston Test due to a right groin injury, which means young Shubman Gill will have to open the batting from July 1-5. are ready.
With India seeking a Test series win in England for the first time since 2007, former India cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar believes batting will be a major challenge for the visitors at Edgbaston and that Rahul’s disappearance is a “problem”. Big blow”.
Highest batting average in Test cricket in England by active Indian players. (Minimum 400 runs).
42.4 – Rohit Sharma
34.5 – Virat Kohli
34.1 – KL Rahul
30.6 – Murali Vijay pic.twitter.com/PxvtJDIatG – Rohit Sharma Fanclub India (@Imro_fanclub) June 24, 2022
“It was remarkable effort at the top from KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma that saw India score enough to take the bowling out of the match and get that score 2-1. This time out with KL Rahul missing , it is a huge blow for India. But there is hope in the selection of Shreyas Iyer, if he gets a game and hopefully, Hanuma Vihari too, with Cheteshwar Pujara making a comeback.
“India have the resources to fill that void. But when you look at India’s seam bowling, there are quality and quality options to choose from besides the two spinners. The batting will be big like last time. The challenge, Manjrekar said in a virtual interaction organized by Sony Sports.
On the first day of their four-day tour against Leicestershire, early dismissals of the top six batsmen could cause some concern in the Indian camp, according to Manjrekar’s views. After being watchful, Sharma falls while trying to hook the ball, Virat Kohli gets stuck lbw after missing the ball, Hanuma Vihari gets stuck at first slip while going for the flick, Ravindra Jadeja by an inswinger Stuck in front of the stumps while Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer walk away from their bodies.
“Because this is the only Test match and India haven’t played one in England in a long time as they are going there after a year. The team management and we all know that the biggest challenge for India is to get the minimum score. 300 runs in the first innings and hopefully another big score in the second innings.
“Whatever the team’s plan, they will always be looking to address the batting issues and with KL Rahul being a big blow to India, if you look at the top five or six, you will be batting. “There’s not a situation where you have numbers three, four, five, all in great form and playing in foreign conditions lately,” Manjrekar elaborated.
Manjrekar remarked that ace spinner Ravichandran Ashwin might miss out on playing the Edgbaston Test if the Indian team is forced to choose between him or left-arm spin all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja. Last year, Ashwin did not feature in all four Test matches in England as India along with four fast bowlers picked Jadeja as their lone spin option.
“The composition of the team reflects that although India would like to play four seam bowlers if the pitch and conditions are going to be favourable and that team may be tempted to have an extra batsman to go along with three seamers and a spinner.
“But the choice of fast bowlers will also depend on who can contribute with the bat and with a spinner also Jadeja may be preferred because of his ability to contribute more with the bat than Ashwin. There is quality bowling. But not at the cost. “Batting depth/strength in the team structure,” Manjrekar said ahead of England’s tour of India to be broadcast on Sony Sports Network from July 1 to 17.