Sanjay Bangar has opened up on India’s Test squad which will soon take on South Africa. Notably, Ajinkya Rahane’s place has come under the scanner and the veteran believes that he will struggle to make the playing XI as well.
However, Ajinkya Rahane has been going through a poor run with the bat in recent times. But, his stunning record in South Africa, where he averages more than 50, might help him. He said during a discussion on the Star Sports show Game Plan:
“I will find it very difficult to accommodate Ajinkya Rahane. Because you do require experience but you do not require too much experience, you also require form, you require youth and you require exuberance.”
Hanuma Vihari deserves the chance to bat ahead of Shreyas Iyer – Sanjay Bagar
Meanwhile, Sanjay Bangar backed Hanuma Vihari ahead of Shreyas Iyer for the No. 5 spot in the Indian team for the Test series against South Africa as well. Notably, Vihari wasn’t a part of the home Test series against New Zealand and he has played against South Africa A as well.
Iyer, on the other hand, smashed a century and a half-century on debut against New Zealand as well. Sanjay Bangar again said:
“If the choice has to be between Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari, I would tilt towards Hanuma Vihari because of the kind of service he has done. He deserves that chance to bat ahead of Shreyas Iyer in an overseas Test match.”
However, he also acknowledged that Shreyas Iyer would be extremely confident after his stunning show against the Kiwis.
“I think Shreyas at the moment is high on confidence. If the thinking of the team management is that young careers have to begin in Indian conditions, so there is a confidence for Shreyas Iyer,” he added.
“But look at Hanuma Vihari. He is somebody who has played the hard yards, who has got a hundred in West Indies, he saved a Test match for you in Sydney. Whenever he was asked to open the innings, he did that. He played on a single leg to save a Test match and he got a hundred,” Sanjay Bangar concluded.
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