Australia vs India 2018: Sanjay Manjrekar Picks Opening Pair For Melbourne Test

Published - 24 Dec 2018, 06:38 PM | Updated - 22 Aug 2024, 11:58 PM

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Former Indian National Cricket Team cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar feels that India should drop KL Rahul for the third Test match against Australia. Manjrekar backed Mayank Agarwal to debut for India saying it could be a shot in the arm for the visitors. He also opined that if India doesn’t want to risk the unexperienced Agarwal than Hanuma Vihari could be another option at the top.

Ahead of the third Test, India had faced a few selection issues. Prithvi Shaw who got injured during the practice match saw KL Rahul and Murali Vijay open the innings. However, the duo couldn’t perform well in both the Tests. Rahul and Vijay have failed to provide good starts to the Indian team in the series so far. Partnerships of 3, 63, 6, 0 for the first wicket in four innings clearly show the pair has struggled a lot.

Manjrekar wants Vihari to open

While speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Sanjay Manjrekar spoke on the options India could look for the opening slots. He felt that KL Rahul should be dropped from the team only because of the way he is getting out over the last few matches. The former cricketer also added that Murali Vijay looked comfortable after spending some time in the middle with County cricket. He believed that Vijay should be a part of the third Test.

The 53-year-old backed Hanuma Vihari to open the innings for India in the Boxing Day Test. However, Mayank Agarwal was not a part of the practice games, and Manjrekar thus feels it would be not a suitable option to give him a chance without any practice against Australia.

“That is my issue with Mayank Agarwal. He’s got all the talent but is it fair to send the youngster into a Test match in Australia without any warm-up games? So I’d rather have Hanuma Vihari up the order. Every time I have seen him bat, I see more than a number six batsmen. I can see number 1,2 or 3 batsman play in him,” Sanjay Manjrekar said.