Sanjay Manjrekar on Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli Missing Duleep Trophy
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar expressed concerns about star batters Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli not participating in the recently-concluded Duleep Trophy. He believes their absence was not good for Indian cricket or the players themselves.
The Duleep Trophy ended with India A winning the title. Several Indian international stars like Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav played in the tournament. However, Rohit and Virat did not feature in it.
When India played Bangladesh in the first Test at Chennai, it was Rohit’s first Test in five months and Virat’s first in eight months. Both players struggled, with Rohit scoring five and six, and Virat making six and 17 in their respective innings.
Speaking on ESPNCricinfo, Manjrekar said, “I am not worried, but I am sure somebody made a note of the fact that they would have been better off had they played some red-ball cricket. There was the option of picking them in the Duleep Trophy. So one has to be careful about treating certain players differently and do what is best for Indian cricket and for the player.”
He added, “Virat and Rohit not playing (Duleep Trophy) was not good for Indian cricket, nor was it good for the two players. Had they played the Duleep Trophy and had some time in the red-ball cricket, things would have been different.”
Despite their struggles, Manjrekar backed both stars to make a big comeback in the second Test. “They have the class and experience to make a comeback later in the series, and I do not see them, for that reason, not being in form,” he said.
India won the first Test by 280 runs, setting a target of 515 runs for Bangladesh and bowling them out for 234. Key performances came from Ravichandran Ashwin, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, and Jasprit Bumrah.
The Indian team has decided to retain the same squad for the second Test, scheduled to start in Kanpur on September 27.
India Squad for the Second Test Against Bangladesh
| Player | Role |
|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma (C) | Batsman |
| Yashasvi Jaiswal | Batsman |
| Shubman Gill | Batsman |
| Virat Kohli | Batsman |
| KL Rahul | Batsman |
| Sarfaraz Khan | Batsman |
| Rishabh Pant (WK) | Wicketkeeper |
| Dhruv Jurel (WK) | Wicketkeeper |
| R Ashwin | All-rounder |
| R Jadeja | All-rounder |
| Axar Patel | All-rounder |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Bowler |
| Mohd. Siraj | Bowler |
| Akash Deep | Bowler |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Bowler |
| Yash Dayal | Bowler |
Doubts Revealed
Sanjay Manjrekar -: Sanjay Manjrekar is a former Indian cricketer who played for the Indian national team. He is now a cricket commentator and analyst.
Rohit Sharma -: Rohit Sharma is a famous Indian cricketer known for his powerful batting. He is the captain of the Indian cricket team in limited-overs formats.
Virat Kohli -: Virat Kohli is one of the best batsmen in the world and a former captain of the Indian cricket team. He is known for his aggressive playing style and numerous records.
Duleep Trophy -: The Duleep Trophy is a domestic first-class cricket competition in India. It is named after Kumar Shri Duleepsinhji, a famous Indian cricketer.
red-ball practice -: Red-ball practice refers to playing cricket with a red ball, which is used in Test matches. It helps players get used to the longer format of the game.
Test -: A Test match is the longest form of cricket, lasting up to five days. It is considered the ultimate test of a player’s skill and endurance.
Kanpur -: Kanpur is a city in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. It is known for its historical significance and is one of the venues for cricket matches in India.
