Sanjay Manjrekar Prefers Wriddhiman Saha Over Rishabh Pant To Keep Wickets In Australia

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has named his choice to keep wickets for India in the upcoming Test series between Australia and India. India and Australia are gearing up to face each other in four Tests, set to commence from the 17th of December in Adelaide. While India might have a selection dilemma of choosing amongst Wriddhiman Saha and Rishabh Pant, Sanjay Manjrekar could have made it slightly easier for them.

Wriddhiman Saha played in the first warm-up against Australia A in the Drummoyne Oval in Sydney and scored a fifty. On the other hand, Rishabh Pant has not been in the best of forms recently, neither with the bat nor behind the wickets. Notably, Pant also failed with the bat in the ongoing practice match with the pink ball, managing only five runs but it would be worthy to note that Saha perished for a duck.

A Twitter user asked Sanjay Manjrekar, Aakash Chopra, and Brad Hogg as to whom should India give the nod for the first Test against Australia. Sanjay Manjrekar conceded that in Australia, one must always go for a candidate with better keeping skills. The former Indian batsman mentioned that dropping a batsman like Steve Smith early could prove perilous and Virat Kohli’s men need the best gloveman against pace down under.

Below is Sanjay Manjrekar’s reply to the question:

In Tests always keeping skills first. Drop a Steve Smith early and he gets a 200! So Saha. Also need a better keeper against pace in Australia. Again Saha. https://t.co/R0udBBCr04

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) December 11, 2020

With both Saha and Pant managing low scores in the ongoing practice game, it would indeed be a dilemma for the management. The likes of Virat Kohli have not dropped a hint either regarding the same. The first Test kickstarts in Adelaide, which is set to be a day and night affair. The next three matches will start in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane on the 26th of December, 3rd and 15th of January respectively.

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