IND vs SA: Give Younger Players A Platform To Excel In South Africa Series - Sanjay Manjrekar

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar stated that the South African ODI series must be treated as a good opportunity to allow newcomers to settle in and excel.

In the first ODI, debutante Venkatesh Iyer wasn’t used for bowling and he was sent out to bat in a pressure situation where he ended up failing. In order to accommodate senior players’ wishes, the inexperienced cricketers’ growth is being shunted.

“My view is that this is a great series to try out other players. What team management has to do is when you get a young player, give them a platform to excel. Like when Venkatesh Iyer came into bat last time, it was a tough job to expect somebody now who is feeling the pressure that he is playing as a pure batter if you haven’t bowled,” Manjrekar said in a conversation with ESPNcricinfo.

Sanjay Manjrekar thinks KL Rahul should bat down the order

Having played at No.5 and scored a century before, it didn’t make sense for KL Rahul to come out and open. However, that was the case in the first ODI and he ended up getting dismissed cheaply, leaving a gaping hole in the middle-order.

“KL Rahul has the ability to bat down the order. But the Indian cricket culture has always been about what the senior player wants to do. So I have a feeling somewhere that the team management recognises Rahul’s keenness to bat at the top of the order.

“But I’d like to see young players, the inexperienced, and the more uncertain players in the side get better opportunities in the side to perform. That’s the smarter way to go about it,” Manjrekar added.

South Africa won the first ODI by 31 runs and will begin the second game with the momentum on their side.

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