Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar feels Team India should include three new batters and bowlers in the Test squad for the upcoming tour of West Indies. India is scheduled to play a two-match Test series. Following their loss in the World Test Championship final against Australia, there have been calls for a revamped Test squad.
The West Indies tour will be India’s first assignment in the new 2023-25 ICC World Test Championship cycle. Sanjay Manjrekar shared his thoughts on the team composition for the test series. He expressed that India needs to bring in new players for the tour, and include atleast three new batters and fast bowlers in the team. Speaking to Espncricnifo, Sanjay Manjrekar said,
“The game changers for Australia in the WTC final – Steve Smith and Travis Head – don’t play a lot of T20 cricket. So we have to find guys who are not going to be fatigued or don’t have to make the adjustments from IPL to Test cricket. About time we start rewarding the guys who are doing well in first-class cricket. And not just runs. The selectors could look at players who have it in them to be future Test players and succeed in foreign conditions. I would like to see at least three new batters come into play in the picture and new fast bowlers.”
Selectors need to have a look at first-class performers: Sanjay Manjrekar
Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar further expressed that Team India selectors need to reward players who have been performing well in first-class cricket. There were speculations about the inclusion of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Yashasvi Jaiswal in the Test team for the series. The likes of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara are in their mid-30s, which has resulted in some experts calling for the inclusion of youngsters.
“When it comes to batting, they just have to look at first-class performers and not just the amount of runs the player has scored. If you closely observe our domestic cricket then you will find players for No. 3, 4, 5 who has a decent defensive technique, has an appetite for runs and that’s your guy, that’s the guy to back,” said Sanjay Manjrekar.
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