When batter scores heavily in domestic, he becomes NRI: Manjrekar
The Indian cricket team’s recent 0-2 defeat in the Test series against South Africa has sparked a lot of debate and discussion among cricket pundits and fans. One of the main concerns that has been raised is the performance of Indian batters in overseas conditions. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has made a shocking claim that when an Indian batter scores heavily in domestic cricket and gets selected for the national team, he becomes like a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) who is not accustomed to the conditions in his own country.
Manjrekar’s statement may seem bizarre at first, but it highlights a significant issue that the Indian team has been facing in recent times. The lack of experience and preparation of Indian batters in overseas conditions has been a major concern, and it was evident in the recent Test series against South Africa. Players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant, who have been in great form in domestic cricket, struggled to cope with the challenging conditions in South Africa.
According to Manjrekar, these players have played a significant number of Tests away from home in the last two years, which has left them poorly prepared for Indian conditions. “When a batter scores heavily in domestic cricket, he becomes like an NRI,” Manjrekar said. “He is not used to the conditions in his own country, and that’s why we are seeing such poor performances from our batters in overseas conditions.”
Manjrekar’s statement is not entirely unfounded. The Indian team’s batting line-up has been heavily reliant on players who have been performing well in domestic cricket, but have struggled to replicate their form in overseas conditions. The lack of experience and exposure to different conditions has been a major factor in their poor performances.
The case of Yashasvi Jaiswal is a prime example. Jaiswal has been in phenomenal form in domestic cricket, scoring heavily in the Ranji Trophy and the Indian Premier League (IPL). However, when he was selected for the national team, he struggled to cope with the challenging conditions in South Africa. Despite his impressive domestic record, Jaiswal looked out of sorts in the Test series, and his inexperience in overseas conditions was evident.
Similarly, players like KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant, who have been in great form in domestic cricket, have also struggled to perform in overseas conditions. These players have been playing a significant number of Tests away from home, which has left them poorly prepared for Indian conditions.
So, what is the solution to this problem? According to Manjrekar, the Indian team needs to focus on preparing its batters for overseas conditions. “We need to prepare our batters for overseas conditions, and that’s why we need to play more Tests at home,” Manjrekar said. “When our batters play more Tests at home, they will be better prepared for overseas conditions, and we will see better performances from them.”
Manjrekar’s suggestion is not entirely impractical. The Indian team has been playing a significant number of Tests away from home in recent times, which has left its batters poorly prepared for overseas conditions. By playing more Tests at home, the Indian team can give its batters the opportunity to gain experience and prepare themselves for overseas conditions.
In conclusion, Sanjay Manjrekar’s claim that an Indian batter becomes like an NRI when he scores heavily in domestic cricket and gets selected for the national team is not entirely unfounded. The lack of experience and preparation of Indian batters in overseas conditions has been a major concern, and it was evident in the recent Test series against South Africa. By focusing on preparing its batters for overseas conditions and playing more Tests at home, the Indian team can improve its performances in overseas conditions and become a more competitive team.
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