Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar said Rohit Sharma made some mistakes as captain in the two Tests against South Africa. Manjrekar added that Rohit not bringing Mohammed Siraj on from the other end on Day 2 of the second Test when Jasprit Bumrah was picking wickets from one end was one of them. He instead brought Prasidh Krishna, who leaked 20 runs in his first over against an in-form Aiden Markram.
Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Sanjay Manjrekar said: “In Test cricket if you lose moments, you lose the game. Rohit made mistakes in both Tests and while it cost us massively in the first game, thankfully Siraj had given allowance for the second Test. Siraj bowling just one over when Markram was scoring and the lead swelled to 60 was a mistake.”
Meanwhile, Sanjay Manjrekar said that Rohit Sharma has the technique and temperament of a classic old-school Test batter and he can play until he wants. He also said that Virat Kohli can also play as he feels he is arguably India’s best Test batter.
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“Rohit Sharma is still among the last of the old-school Test batters. Only he can tell us how much Test cricket he wants to play. I think if he wants to extend his Test career, there will be no competition. Virat Kohli I feel will play as long as possible and thankfully for us. This tour in tough conditions just the difference between him and the next best Test batter India has at least until Rishabh Pant is back,” he added.
However, Sanjay Manjrekar feels Jasprit Bumrah needs to prioritize Test cricket over unimportant white-ball games if he cares about the format as well. Notably, Bumrah registered figures of 6/61 in 13.5 overs as India bundled out South Africa for 176 in their second innings in Cape Town on Thursday, January 4. India then chased down the 79-run fourth-innings target with seven wickets in hand to draw parity in the two-match series as well.
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During a discussion on Star Sports, Manjrekar said: “It’s up to him really. If he cares a lot about Test cricket, he will make sure that he plays more of Test cricket and less of some of the random white-ball bilateral cricket that gets played. I have a lot of time for private leagues but that three-match ODI series (before the Tests), ask people who are cricket fans, what is the result of that series or who played well in the first ODI. Nobody will remember but just imagine if that time was used to have a third Test match.”
Sanjay Manjrekar further added: “It’s not even the 50-over World Cup year. So, it’s up to Jasprit Bumrah. If he wants to play Test cricket, he will have to actually preserve his body. Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma prioritized Test cricket and that’s why they have got so many Test matches under their belt.”
