Sanjay Manjrekar indirectly calls Gautam Gambhir 'nonsense' for making Sarfaraz Khan bat at No.8

Former India National Cricket Team batter Sanjay Manjrekar lashed out at the head coach, Gautam Gambhir, for making Sarfaraz Khan bat at No.8 in the ongoing Test against the New Zealand National Cricket Team. He criticized the decision, saying that it was a poor call by the team.

India National Cricket Team had a poor outing with the bat yet again in the ongoing series. The Rohit Sharma-led side yet again struggled to get going against the spinners and lost wickets in clusters, getting under pressure like it happened in the two days.

Sarfaraz Khan walked out to bat at No.8 in the third Test

With India losing wickets against spinners, this made Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir tweak the batting order. Sarfaraz Khan, who originally was slated to bat at No.5, was pushed down the order, and Ravindra Jadeja was promoted ahead of him, and the move didn't work as well.

Ravindra Jadeja got out early as well and then Sarfaraz Khan walked out to bat at No.8, which was well below his batting position. As a result of that, he couldn't get going at all as the right-hander bagged a duck, perishing to Ajaz Patel after just a few balls.

Also read: Virat Kohli absolutely drilled down by Anil Kumble after another flop outing vs New Zealand

Sarfaraz Khan batting down the order was a big surprise because the batter has been in terrific touch. He is touted as one of the best players of the spin and also slammed 150 in the first Test against the New Zealand National Cricket Team in the first Test at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Makes no sense. Sarfraz now walking in at no 8! Poor call by India - Sanjay Manjrekar

Sarfaraz Khan's batting down the order didn't go well with Sanjay Manjrekar. The India cricketer questioned Gautam Gambhir's tactics of left and right combination. While lashing out at the team management, he explained:

“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,"

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

Why they are sending Sarfraz lower down the order - Madan Lal

Not only Sanjay Manjrekar but also Madan Lal wasn't impressed with the way Sarfaraz Khan was made to bat down the order. He said that if the team management believes that the batter can't play spun then he shouldn't be played in XI. Taking to his X account, he explained:

"Why they are sending Sarfraz lower down the order. If he can’t handle the spinner then he shouldn’t be playing. He will lose the confidence also."

Why they are sending Sarfraz lower down the order. If he can’t handle the spinner then he shouldn’t be playing.He will lose the confidence also.

— Madan Lal (@MadanLal1983) November 2, 2024

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. It remains to be seen what will be the combination in the second innings.