Former Indian cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar and Sanjay Bangar have delved into the intricacies of India’s batting strategies and the adaptability of its players. These experts have underscored the vital role of India’s top-order strength and the significance of avoiding early wicket losses to ensure successful outcomes.

Manjrekar drew attention to the Test cricket skills required at the commencement of a 50-over match, commending the defensive capabilities of India’s top three batsmen – Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Shubman Gill. He stressed the importance of these batters not succumbing to early wicket losses in order to establish their dominance throughout the game.

“While there’s talk about 50 overs being a white-ball cricket format, the beginning of a 50 overs game is not akin to a T20 match. There’s a need for serious test cricket skills initially. Numbers one, two, and three for India, especially when Virat bats at number three, are highly proficient test batters,” Sanjay Manjrekar shared with Star Sports.

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“Rohit Sharma, for instance, recorded five centuries in the previous World Cup, displaying respect for the bowlers in the initial 10 overs. Gill, Rohit Sharma, and Virat possess strong credentials as adept defensive test batters, a trait they should employ. If they manage to avoid early wickets, they can dominate the game,” he elaborated.

Concurrently, Sanjay Bangar shed light on KL Rahul’s versatility and how the team management is exploring diverse batting combinations during their training camp in Bengaluru. He highlighted KL Rahul’s adaptability as a player who can perform effectively across various batting positions. The training camp has witnessed different pairs of players batting together, indicating the management’s considerations regarding KL Rahul’s role, including the possibility of him as an opening batsman.

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“KL Rahul is an incredibly versatile player, especially as a batter. He has opened the innings and also batted at number 5. In this camp, we are exploring several aspects. For instance, we had pairs like Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma batting together one day, and today, KL and Rohit were batting together in pairs. This suggests that the team management is contemplating KL Rahul’s potential as an opening batsman. Although this might not be their primary choice, they are keen to explore the best options available,” Sanjay Bangar concluded.