When batter scores heavily in domestic, he becomes NRI: Manjrekar
The Indian cricket team has been facing a tough time in the ongoing Test series against South Africa, having suffered a 0-2 defeat in the first two matches. The team’s batting lineup, which was expected to be a strong point, has failed to deliver in the alien conditions. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has come out with a scathing critique of the Indian batters, stating that they become like Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) when they score heavily in domestic cricket and get selected for the national team.
According to Manjrekar, the Indian batters have become so accustomed to playing in foreign conditions that they struggle to adapt to the conditions back home. “When a batter scores heavily in domestic cricket, he becomes like an NRI. He is not used to playing in Indian conditions and struggles to adjust when he comes back,” Manjrekar said in a recent interview.
Manjrekar’s comments come in the wake of the Indian team’s poor performance in the ongoing Test series against South Africa. The team’s batting lineup, which includes the likes of KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant, has failed to fire in the alien conditions. The team has been struggling to cope with the bounce and seam movement on the South African pitches, and Manjrekar believes that this is because they have not played enough cricket in India.
“Players like Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant have played nine to 12 Tests away from home in the last two years. They have not played enough cricket in India, and as a result, they are struggling to adjust to the conditions here,” Manjrekar said.
Manjrekar’s comments are not without merit. The Indian team has been on a relentless tour schedule over the past two years, playing a majority of their matches away from home. While this has helped the team to gain valuable experience in different conditions, it has also meant that they have not had the opportunity to play as much cricket in India.
The Indian domestic cricket season is one of the busiest in the world, with a plethora of tournaments and leagues taking place throughout the year. However, the national team players are often not available to participate in these tournaments, as they are busy playing international cricket. This means that they do not get the opportunity to play in Indian conditions as much as they would like, and as a result, they struggle to adjust when they come back.
The Indian team’s struggles in the ongoing Test series against South Africa are a testament to this. The team’s batters have been struggling to cope with the bounce and seam movement on the South African pitches, and have been getting out to soft dismissals. The team’s bowlers, on the other hand, have been struggling to pick up wickets on the flat pitches.
Manjrekar believes that the Indian team needs to find a balance between playing international cricket and domestic cricket. “The Indian team needs to find a way to balance their international schedule with domestic cricket. The players need to play more cricket in India, so that they can get used to the conditions and develop their skills,” he said.
The Indian cricket board has taken note of Manjrekar’s comments, and is reportedly considering changes to the domestic cricket schedule. The board is looking to reduce the number of tournaments and leagues, and to make sure that the national team players are available to participate in the domestic season.
In conclusion, Sanjay Manjrekar’s comments about the Indian batters becoming like NRIs when they score heavily in domestic cricket and get selected for the national team are a stark reminder of the challenges that the team faces. The team’s struggles in the ongoing Test series against South Africa are a testament to the fact that they need to find a balance between playing international cricket and domestic cricket. The Indian cricket board needs to take note of Manjrekar’s comments, and make changes to the domestic cricket schedule to ensure that the national team players are available to participate in the domestic season.
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