Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli slammed by Sanjay Manjrekar with 'Duleep Trophy' claim after failure in 1st Test

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has taken a dig at India's senior batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli after they failed to get a big score during the first innings of the opening Test match of the series in Chennai.

Rohit Sharma was the first Indian wicket to fall as he was caught at the second slip by Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto off the bowling of Hasan Mahmud. Virat Kohli too could not extend his stay at the crease for long.

Kohli tried to play an expansive drive away from the body and was caught behind by the wicketkeeper Litton Das off the bowling of Hasan Mahmud. Both Rohit and Kohli were dismissed for 6 runs and looked rusty at the crease.

Also read: Hasan Mahmud becomes the 1st Bangladesh bowler to achieve a massive record in India

Sanjay Manjrekar slams Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli with 'Duleep Trophy' claim

While speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Sanjay Manjrekar shared his views on Bangladesh's decision to field first after winning the toss. He reckoned that the first hour was always going to be tricky and Rohit had his work cut out.

“When you have to bat on a pitch like this. First up, Rohit Sharma was going to bowl as well, so they all saw the pick and realised the first hour or maybe the whole session was going to be tricky. The case that it’s something you get at virtually every stadium where the first hour is challenging,” Manjrekar said.

“Rohit Sharma had his work cut out you know he was doing what he does best, to take his time. But you know two good balls in the right length got him into trouble,” he added.

After the wicket of Rohit, India lost Shubman Gill for a duck as he was caught down the leg side off Hasan Mahmud's bowling. Virat Kohli arrived next but could not stay for long.

Sanjay Manjrekar was critical of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli

Manjrekar then reiterated his earlier comment when he felt that Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have played fewer international matches in the last few years. He wanted Rohit and Kohli to play Duleep Trophy which could have given them some rhythm going into this series.

“I said a few weeks back as well that considering the amount of international matches Rohit (Sharma) and Virat (Kohli) played in the last five years, they could have been picked for the Duleep Trophy and I’m sure the time out there would have just held them at least in the first innings where they suddenly came out cold and having had to bat first," Manjrekar reckoned.

While Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were not considered for the Duleep Trophy, other players like KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, Akash Deep, and Yashasvi Jaiswal got good game time by playing in the first round of the tournament.

Meanwhile, India were reduced to 144-6 at one point by Bangladesh but the spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja showed their batting skills to bail the team out of trouble. Ashwin scored 113 while Jadeja scored 86. Both were dismissed in the morning session of the second day.