IND vs SA: Sanjay Manjrekar Namedrops MS Dhoni While Praising KL Rahul

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar highlighted KL Rahul’s expertise in successfully making Decision Review System (DRS) calls from behind the stumps. Sanjay Manjrekar drew a parallel between KL Rahul’s instincts and those of the legendary captain, MS Dhoni.

KL Rahul guided India to a 78-run victory against South Africa in the third ODI at Boland Park in Paarl, securing a 2-1 series win. The Indian skipper displayed impressive leadership skills, particularly in managing a young team in challenging South African conditions.

Kl Rahul Looks Very Relaxed And In A Good Mind Space – Sanjay Manjrekar

In a conversation with ESPNcricinfo, Manjrekar commended KL Rahul’s captaincy, noting his relaxed demeanor and strong mental presence on the field. Manjrekar expressed confidence in Rahul’s decision-making abilities and expertise in successfully using the DRS.

“These days, when you see KL Rahul on the ground, he looks very relaxed and in a good mind space. He captained as expected. He looks comfortable in the leadership role. He has led a lot in the IPL, in a Test match in South Africa and in one-day matches as well. You can expect KL Rahul not to make any big mistake. He is an expert in DRS. His instinct is equal to MS Dhoni,” Majrekar said.

Rahul did not have to bat as the Men in Blue secured a victory by eight wickets in the first ODI of the series in Johannesburg. The right-handed batter contributed 56 runs off 64 balls in the second ODI in Gqeberha and scored 21 off 35 in the series decider match in Paarl.

The Indian skipper made several successful DRS calls throughout the series that favored the visiting team. Rahul also played a significant role in the team’s fielding department during the ODI series against South Africa, with Rahul alone accounting for six of the 12 catches.

It’s The Players Who Are Doing Well – Sanjay Manjrekar

Sanjay Manjrekar emphasized that the players’ outstanding performances are the true driving force behind the team’s success. The former cricketer expressed that Indian cricket seems to be running on autopilot.

“It seems like Indian cricket is running on autopilot. Suryakumar Yadav won as captain recently, KL Rahul now. Rohit Sharma has also won a lot of games for India. A lot of credit for the success must go to the players. Captaincy is good, but not game-changing. It’s the players who are doing really well,” Manjrekar further stated.

Despite falling short in the ODI World Cup at home, India has maintained its impressive form in bilateral series, even when resting several senior players. Suryakumar Yadav led the team to a T20I series win against Australia and a drawn T20I series in South Africa.

Senior players, including Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah, will join the Indian squad for the upcoming two-match Test series in South Africa. The series is scheduled to commence with a Boxing Day encounter at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.

Also read: “Yashasvi Jaiswal Can Do What Rohit Sharma Did In The ODI World Cup 2023 For India”- Sanjay Manjrekar