Sanjay Manjrekar Questions The Inclusion Of Hardik Pandya Over Manish Pandey For The First ODI Against Australia
Updated - 27 Nov 2020, 12:30 PM
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has opened up on India’s playing eleven for the first ODI against Australia. India resumed their international duties after nine months and began their two-month tour of Australia with the first of the three ODIs in Sydney. While the tourists selected Hardik Pandya in their playing eleven, Sanjay Manjrekar prefers Manish Pandey.
Hardik Pandya has been in fine form with the bat in IPL 2020, dishing out some lusty blows for the Mumbai Indians at the back end. Nevertheless, the 26-year old all-rounder cannot bowl for the moment due to his back injury. On the other hand, Manish Pandey had a mixed tournament; however, fared well in the tour of New Zealand in limited-overs earlier this year.
Sanjay Manjrekar did not quite get the idea of playing Hardik Pandya as a pure batsman and instead go for Manish Pandey. The former Indian batsman added that if Pandya can deliver a few overs, he could opt for him. Furthermore, Sanjay underlined that Manish’s average is 35 as against Hardik’s 29 in ODIs.
Hardik as pure batsman in 50 overs cricket? Untested. I would go for the tried & tested material of Manish Pandey. https://t.co/gvInLavSuo
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) November 26, 2020
Ok. Sir. But as pure batsman – Hardik, Average of 29. Pandey 35…strike rate not greatly different, just saying. https://t.co/8t10wA9j4g
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) November 26, 2020
Sanjay Manjrekar returned to the commentary box for the India-Australia series:
Sanjay Manjrekar returned to the commentary panel for the India-Australia series after the BCCI kept him out for IPL 2020 following some debatable comments. The committee will also involve former Australian great Glenn McGrath, and former English opener Nick Knight as English commentators.
The 53-year old has hogged the limelight in recent past for all the wrong reasons, especially after calling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja a ‘bits and pieces’ player. In turn, Jadeja hit back by asking him to respect people for what they have achieved. Manjrekar also had a bitter exchange with Harsha Bhogle during the pink-ball Test at the Eden Gardens against Bangladesh last year.
Bhogle opined that the visibility of the ball would be a massive factor against the large white sight-screen and that the players and the players needed to be consulted on the same. Manjrekar countered him by saying “You need to ask; for those who have played cricket, it’s evident it (the ball) can be seen well,”
Tagged:
Hardik Pandya Manish Pandey Sanjay Manjrekar
