Sanjay Manjrekar claims India will pressure curators to prepare rank turners after Bengaluru Test loss

India’s shocking eight-wicket loss to New Zealand in the first Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru has sparked concerns about their approach, and Sanjay Manjrekar predicted drastic changes for the remaining two Tests of the ongoing home series.

With India trailing 0-1 in the ongoing three-match Test series against New Zealand, Sanjay Manjrekar is confident that India will turn to rank-turners in the remaining games to regain control and avoid suffering Test series losses on home soil for the first time since 2012.

Sanjay Manjrekar suggests spin-heavy pitches key to India's comeback against New Zealand

The cricket pundit has highlighted the need for Indian cricket to exploit their traditional strength—spin bowling. In the Bengaluru Test, despite fielding a trio of spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Kuldeep Yadav failed to make a significant impact, allowing New Zealand to post a mammoth 402 runs in the first innings.

Bengaluru’s M Chinnaswamy pitch had been expected to assist spin but did little to trouble the Kiwis. The conditions seemed more favorable for pace bowling, and India’s pacers were given extended spells in the final innings while defending a meager target of 107 runs.

Manjrekar warned Team India against preparing such pitches for the remaining two games, as New Zealand's seamers are well-equipped to exploit pace-friendly conditions. On rank-turners, however, India’s world-class spinners could turn the tide in the ongoing home series.

Pressure is more on the curators: Sanjay Manjrekar

With two more Tests to go and the fate of the series rests heavily on the surfaces the hosts choose, the former Indian cricketer emphasized that the pressure is now on the curators to produce tracks that provide greater assistance to Ashwin, Jadeja, and Kuldeep.

Sanjay Manjrekar was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo: “Pressure is more on the curators for the next two Test matches. If India gets pitches that they like... I think one of the big takeaways was how Ashwin and Jadeja didn't make an impact on an Indian pitch that had a bit of a turn.

So, obviously, they need more help, and that will be given, I guess. India can win with seamers as well, but New Zealand pacers will use those conditions, which may be as good or even better than the Indian seamers.”

Manjrekar backs India to make a strong comeback in the New Zealand Test series

However, the former Indian batter was confident that Rohit Sharma and his team will make a comeback in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand, but he feels the rank-turners will make their quest easy as the spinners will come into the picture and dominate on the home conditions.

Manjrekar signed off by saying, “I see India coming back. Even in Bengaluru, there were some champion performances they put in after getting 46. To be competing right till the very end was just incredible. India are a very dangerous team with match winners who have great self-belief. But the pitch, if it turns out to be a rank-turner, will just make India's life much easier.”