Sanjay Manjrekar suggests a potential competition between KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer for a middle-order position in India’s Test squad when Rishabh Pant recovers from his injury. Pant, considered one of India’s top Test match-winners, faced the setback due to a tragic road accident in December 2022.
While Rahul brings more experience to India’s red-ball cricket, Iyer has shown greater consistency in the format. Rahul holds an average of 33.59 in 49 Tests with eight centuries, whereas Iyer boasts an average of 39.27 in 12 matches but has secured only one century.
In an interview with Star Sports following the second India-South Africa Test in Cape Town, Manjrekar commended Rahul for making the most of each chance. However, he believes Rahul might face competition with Iyer for a middle-order position.
“I think he’s [KL Rahul] a guy who cares about every format,” Manjrekar said. “You know how he’s built to value every opportunity that he gets after he got that 100.”
“You know, I am looking two years from now and I thought he’s really competing with Shreyas Iyer for a batting position in the middle order because the moment Rishabh Pant is fit, he becomes your keeper batter, and there’s great quality to Rishabh Pant batting and keeping as well.”
Rishabh Pant is anticipated to make a comeback to competitive cricket in IPL 2024. This sets the stage for the upcoming five-match home Test series against England as a potential showdown between Rahul and Iyer.
Meanwhile, Team India secured a remarkable seven-wicket victory in the second Test in Cape Town, resulting in the series ending in a 1-1 draw.
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“That innings was just incredible” – Sanjay Manjrekar views on KL Rahul’s opening Test century
Sanjay Manjrekar lauded KL Rahul for his impressive century in the first Test against South Africa in Centurion. Despite the significance of his 101 runs on a challenging Day 1 pitch being nullified, the former cricketer believed it was a crucial moment for India to seize to secure the series win.
Entering the crease at 92/4, the 31-year-old wicketkeeper-batter crafted a century, scoring 101 off 137 deliveries and guiding India to a competitive total of 245.
“That innings was just incredible (First Test hundred),” Manjrekar continued. “Unfortunately, you know, Dean Elgar got a 180, they got 400 because we at the time thought that 260 was gonna be enough. And that was the moment if India could have latched onto, there would have been a series win in South Africa.”
Regrettably for the visiting team, subpar bowling and a stellar performance by Dean Elgar dashed their hopes of clinching a historic Test series victory in South Africa.
India faced a defeat by an innings and 32 runs in the match, trailing 0-1 in the two-match Test series. However, they mounted a comeback in the subsequent game, concluding the two-match series with a 1-1 scoreline.
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