Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes India should have selected a younger squad for the T20 World Cup. He argues that relying on senior players like Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli has not been successful in the past. Despite this, selectors have shown faith in these veterans, forcing the team into a set combination. Manjrekar would have preferred young talents like Yashaswi Jaiswal. Since Rohit and Kohli are now part of the team, he suggests India has limited options, making it difficult to include new players like Jaiswal.
Concerns About Pakistan’s Bowling Threat
Manjrekar dismisses concerns about Pakistan’s bowlers, particularly Mohammed Amir and Shaheen Shah Afridi, posing a threat to Indian batters in their upcoming clash. He points out that Amir hasn’t played international T20 cricket for seven years, and Afridi is not in the same form as before. Manjrekar believes India has handled Afridi well in recent matches, such as the Asia Cup and the 50-overs World Cup, and does not see Pakistan as a major threat. However, Irfan Pathan identifies left-arm spinner Imad Wasim as a potential threat due to his smart bowling.
Backing Hardik Pandya as a Finisher
Manjrekar strongly supports Hardik Pandya as a key player for India in the T20 World Cup. Despite a quiet IPL season, Manjrekar recalls Pandya’s impressive performance in the last T20 World Cup, where he excelled in crucial moments. He emphasizes the importance of backing players who perform well on big stages, placing Pandya and Rishabh Pant ahead of others like Shivam Dubey. Pathan adds that Pandya and Dubey will have different roles, with Pandya as a finisher and Dubey playing a versatile role against spinners.
The Pressure of World Cup Knockout Rounds
Manjrekar highlights the pressure India faces in the early rounds of the World Cup, referencing the team’s early exit in the 2007 West Indies tournament. He believes India needs to quickly find their rhythm but emphasizes that the true test lies in the knockout stages. He notes that Virat Kohli tends to play under additional pressure in crucial games due to his stature, unlike Rohit Sharma, who bats more freely regardless of the situation. This distinction, according to Manjrekar, is critical as India navigates the high-stakes environment of the World Cup.
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