When batter scores heavily in domestic, he becomes NRI: Manjrekar
The Indian cricket team has been facing a lot of criticism lately, especially after their 0-2 defeat in the Test series against South Africa in 2025. One of the main concerns has been the performance of the Indian batters, who have struggled to adapt to the conditions outside of India. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has made a startling claim, stating that an Indian batter becomes like a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) when he scores heavily in domestic cricket and gets selected for the national team.
According to Manjrekar, when a batter scores heavily in domestic cricket, he becomes so used to the Indian conditions that he finds it difficult to adapt to the conditions outside of India. This is because the Indian domestic cricket circuit is dominated by flat pitches that are conducive to batting, and the batters tend to score heavily without facing much challenges. As a result, when they are selected for the national team and play abroad, they struggle to cope with the different conditions and pitches.
Manjrekar cited the examples of cricketers like Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant, who have played nine to 12 Tests away from home in the last two years. He stated that these batters have been poorly prepared for the Indian conditions, despite scoring heavily in domestic cricket. This is because they have not been exposed to the kind of conditions they face outside of India, and as a result, they struggle to adapt.
The problem is not just limited to the batters, but also extends to the bowlers. The Indian bowlers have also struggled to adapt to the conditions outside of India, and have been found wanting in terms of pace and accuracy. This has put a lot of pressure on the batters, who have to score heavily to compensate for the lack of wickets taken by the bowlers.
Manjrekar’s comments have sparked a lot of debate, with some experts agreeing with his assessment and others disagreeing. Some have argued that the Indian batters are talented enough to adapt to any conditions, and that they just need to work on their technique and mindset. Others have pointed out that the Indian team has been struggling with injuries and player unavailability, which has affected their performance.
However, Manjrekar’s comments do highlight a deeper issue with the Indian cricket system. The Indian domestic cricket circuit is not conducive to producing batters who can adapt to different conditions. The pitches are flat, and the batters tend to score heavily without facing much challenges. As a result, when they are selected for the national team, they struggle to cope with the different conditions and pitches.
To address this issue, the Indian cricket board needs to take steps to improve the domestic cricket circuit. This can be done by preparing pitches that are more conducive to bowling, and by introducing rules that encourage batters to play more responsibly. The board can also invest in programs that help batters to develop their skills and adapt to different conditions.
In addition, the Indian team management needs to work on the mindset of the batters. They need to be taught how to adapt to different conditions and pitches, and how to play more responsibly. The team management can also work on the bowlers, by helping them to develop their skills and adapt to different conditions.
In conclusion, Sanjay Manjrekar’s comments have highlighted a deeper issue with the Indian cricket system. The Indian batters are struggling to adapt to conditions outside of India, and this is affecting the team’s performance. To address this issue, the Indian cricket board and team management need to take steps to improve the domestic cricket circuit and work on the mindset of the batters. Only then can the Indian team hope to perform consistently well in all conditions.
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