Australia vs India 2018: Sanjay Manjrekar Happy to Take a Gamble of Playing Rohit Sharma
Published - 05 Dec 2018, 01:08 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 04:17 AM
India???s former batsman and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar is happy to take a gamble of playing Rohit Sharma in the first Test match at Adelaide. India has already announced its 12-man squad. Thus, India is likely to play one batsman between Hanuma Vihari and Rohit Sharma at number six. Meanwhile, Hanuma Vihari gives an option of off-spin to Indian captain Virat Kohli.
However, there is no denying the fact that if Rohit Sharma can get going, he can be a force to reckon with. Sanjay Manjrekar said as the first Test match is going to be played at Adelaide (which is generally good for batsmen), he would be happy to see Rohit Sharma in the playing XI.
Manjrekar backs Rohit Sharma to be in the final XI.
On the other hand, Australia has already named its playing XI for the first Test match. Interestingly, the hosts have decided to drop their vice-captain Mitchell Marsh in place of a specialist batsman Peter Handscomb, who has a good game against the spinners. Consequently, Sanjay Manjrekar believes it is a good move by the hosts to play a proper batsman in place of an all-rounder.
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Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma had scored a good knock of 40 runs in the warm-up match. However, Hanuma Vihari had also scored a fifty. Vihari had made an impressive start in the multi-day format as he scored a fine knock of 56 runs in the fifth and final Test match at Oval against England. However, he didn???t get his chance against the Windies.
On the other hand, Sharma hasn???t been able to carry his limited overs form. However, if he can get going, it would be great for India.
Sanjay Manjrekar took to Twitter to share his post. The post read as, ???Good move by Australia to drop ???neither this nor that??? player Mitchell Marsh for a specialist batsman ??? Peter Handscomb.
For India, playing Rohit is a gamble, but a very tempting one. I would take it because it???s Adelaide.
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