“Did not make any sense to me,” Sanjay Manjrekar criticizes Rohit Sharma’s tactics in 3rd BGT test

Rohit sent Jadeja ahead of Iyer in both the innings. Jadeja did shine with the bat in the previous Tests but flopped on the Indore track.


“Did not make any sense to me,” Sanjay Manjrekar criticizes Rohit Sharma’s tactics in 3rd BGT test

Rohit Sharma; Sanjay Manjrekar

Australia were criticized in the harshest of manner last month for their inability to bat on the Indian subcontinent. But the third Test saw Rohit Sharmas men succumbing to Nathan Lyon‘s spin trap. The nine-wicket loss was not without an embarrassing one, for India put on just 75 runs on the scoreboard in their second innings, and had not Cheteshwar Pujara played the half-century knock, India would have broken the record of the lowest-ever target.

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India’s humiliating collapse in their second innings invited criticisms from fans as well as former players. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar slammed Rohit Sharma for his tactics on Day 2. Rohit sent all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja ahead of batter Shreyas Iyer.

It just disappointed me in the last and this innings as well that Jadeja came ahead of Shreyas Iyer,” Manjrekar was quoted as saying on Star Sports. “You cannot be doing that for a left-right combination. You have got a proper batter, even if he is a right-hander.”

Iyer usually comes at number five in the batting line-up. But Rohit sent Jadeja ahead of Iyer in both innings. Jadeja did shine with the bat in the previous Tests but flopped on the Indore track. “It did not make any sense to me. Iyer has a great feel for spinners so you want him ahead in the line-up. And he has shown his class,” Manjrekar added.

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Ravi Shastri minces no words while pointing out mistakes Rohit Sharma and co. made 

Ravi Shastri minces no words while pointing out mistakes Rohit Sharma and co. made 
IND vs AUS 3rd Test in Indore

Many blamed the pitch for India’s loss but former India head coach Ravi Shastri said that the hosts were a little complacent and overconfident in the third Test. Shastri pointed out batters’ overeagerness to try and dominate in these conditions, which cost them this defeat.

This is what a little complacency, a bit of overconfidence can do where you take things for granted, you drop guard and this game will bring you down,” Shastri said in the commentary after Australia’s triumph.

Rohit Sharma’s men were skittled for 109 on Day 1 after opting to bat first. Australia had a bright start but faced a bewildering collapse on Day 2. But Nathan Lyon did not allow the Indian batters to settle and in a nick of time, he showed eight batters the way back to the pavilion during India’s second innings. Soon Australia went past the 76-run target and emerged victorious, which also saw them secure a berth in the World Test Championship Final as well.

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