IND vs SA: KL Rahul Needs To Be Little More Ruthless – Sanjay Manjrekar
Updated - 23 Jan 2022, 07:28 PM
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has said that the stand-in captain of the Indian team for the South Africa series, KL Rahul, needs to be more ruthless.
Rahul has faced a lot of criticism for his captaincy in the India tour of South Africa. KL Rahul-led India lost the first match of the three-match ODI series by 31 runs and the second match by 7 wickets against the Temba Bavuma-led South Africa. Also, India faced a defeat in the Test match, when Rahul was leading the side.
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Speaking on ESPNcricinfo, Sanjay Manjrekar said that he has not been impressed with the playing XI India picked in the ODI matches against South Africa. He was especially disappointed with the exclusion of Venkatesh Iyer from the playing XI in the third ODI at the Newlands, Cape Town.
“I have not been too impressed with the playing XI that they have selected in all three matches. Venkatesh Iyer being left out shows the captain is not looking to have a second-string team, some exciting options. Because you need to give longer rope to these people rather than the seniors.”
“He [Rahul] wants to open the innings when he is not going to be an opener when Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan will take those positions, maybe you have sacrificed that position through Venky Iyer,” he elaborated.
Manjrekar recalled, that Virat Kohli gave his No.3 batting slot to Ambati Rayudu in the home series against Sri Lanka and he wanted captain Rahul to have such qualities. He said:
“ Because Virat Kohli, if you remember had Ambati Rayudu batting at no.3, in a home series against Sri Lanka because he felt Rayudu could be a middle-order batter that he would need and he batted down the order, those are the qualities you want to see.”
KL Rahul was being a bit too kind to the most senior stalwarts in the team – Sanjay Manjrekar
Former Indian cricketer Manjrekar opined that the stand-in skipper Rahul was too kind to the senior players in the team.
“Also, I felt KL Rahul was being a bit too kind to the most senior stalwarts in the team, Bumrah getting a lot of bowling in the second ODI when the pitch has nothing for him and when you have to get the spinners on quickly,” he explained.
He added that Rahul needs to be a little more like Proteas captain Temba Bavuma, who stays realistic.
“KL Rahul needs to be a little more ruthless, needs to be a little more like Temba Bavuma, who seems to see in the moment, being realistic and using his bowlers optimally which has been most impressive thing about Bavuma. I would like to see KL Rahul, stay in the moment and be realistic and not go by the stature of a bowler rather than current form,” he stated.
Sanjay Manjrekar also feels that Rahul the batsman gets too conservative while leading the Indian team.
“KL Rahul the batter gets a bit too conservative, that needs to change because if Rahul the captain wants to win the games Rahul the batter must make more of an impact,” he further maintained.
Former South African cricketer Daryll Cullinan, who was also part of the discussion on ESPNcricinfo, said that the aggressive captaincy by Virat Kohli is the type of captaincy that suits the Indian team and Rahul is the more quiet captain.
“We must also understand it’s not posted Virat. Virat was a very animated, demonstrative type of captain, full of energy. Now suddenly we have got someone who is quiet and more reserved and I always thought India fits well of Virat’s energy. It’s going to be interesting, is he the long term or short term action with Rohit not available,” he asserted.
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India National Cricket Team KL Rahul Sanjay Manjrekar South Africa national cricket team Virat Kohli
