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Sarfaraz came out to bat at No. 8 for India in the first inning of the ongoing third Test at Wankhede Stadium but failed to open his account.
Sanjay Manjrekar slams Indian team management for changing Sarfaraz Khan’s batting position. (Picture Credit: Sportzpics)
Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar, who has now donned the hat of an expert, took to X on Saturday (November 2) to slam Indian team management’s decision of sending Sarfaraz Khan to bat at No. 8 in the ongoing third Test against New Zealand at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. According to Manjrekar, to push back an in-form batter who is a good player of spin in order to maintain the left-right combination makes no sense.
“A guy in form, has 3 fifties in his first 3 Tests, gets 150 in the Bangalore Test, a good player of spin, pushed back in the order to keep left & right combination?? Makes no sense. Sarfraz now walking in at no 8! Poor call by India,” Manjrekar tweeted.
A guy in form, has 3 fifties in his first 3 Tests, gets 150 in the Bangalore Test, a good player of spin, pushed back in the order to keep left & right combination?? Makes no sense. Sarfraz now walking in at no 8! Poor call by India.— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) November 2, 2024
Ravindra Jadeja was promoted ahead of Sarfaraz to bat on Saturday in India’s first inning of the ongoing third Test, but he failed to make the most of the opportunity and got out after making 14 runs from 25 balls. He was caught by Daryl Mitchell of Glenn Phillips bowling.
On the other hand, Sarfaraz was unable to open his account in the match and return to the pavilion for a four-ball duck. He was caught by Tom Blundell of Ajaz Patel’s bowling.
In the last Test as well, Manjrekar slammed Indian team management and captain Rohit Sharma for pushing Sarfaraz back in the batting order and promoting Washington Sundar over him.
India take lead in 1st inning
Thanks to Shubman Gill’s 90 and Rishabh Pant’s 60, India has managed to take a first-inning lead for the first time in an ongoing series against New Zealand. Gill was unlucky to miss out on a deserving century in front of Mumbai fans. He was caught by Mitchell of Ajaz’s bowling. Before returning to the pavilion, Gill hammered seven fours and one six during his stay at the crease.
On the other hand, Pant faced 59 balls to score 60 runs with the help of eight fours and two sixes. He added 96 runs for the fifth wicket with Gill but was sent back to the pavilion after Ish Sodhi trapped him in front of the wickets.
