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 left many questions unanswered. One of the main concerns is the performance of Indian batters in foreign conditions. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has made a startling claim, stating that an Indian batter becomes an NRI (Non-Resident Indian) when he scores heavily in domestic cricket and gets selected for India. This statement has sparked a debate among cricket enthusiasts, and in this blog post, we will delve deeper into Manjrekar’s claim and its implications.
According to Manjrekar, when an Indian batter performs exceptionally well in domestic cricket, he gets selected for the national team. However, this selection comes with a price. The batter is then forced to play a significant number of matches away from home, leaving him poorly prepared for Indian conditions. 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. This, according to Manjrekar, has made them struggle in Indian conditions.
The concept of an NRI is typically associated with individuals who live and work outside India. However, in the context of cricket, Manjrekar’s statement suggests that these batters become “Non-Resident Indians” in the sense that they are no longer familiar with the conditions in their home country. This lack of familiarity can lead to a decline in their performance, making it challenging for them to adapt to the unique conditions found in India.
Manjrekar’s claim is not entirely unfounded. The Indian cricket team has indeed struggled in foreign conditions, and the batters have been criticized for their inability to adapt to different pitches and conditions. The recent series against South Africa is a prime example, where the Indian batters struggled to cope with the pace and bounce of the South African pitches.
One of the primary reasons for this struggle is the lack of preparation and exposure to foreign conditions. The Indian domestic cricket structure is designed to produce batters who excel in Indian conditions, with pitches that are generally flat and spin-friendly. However, when these batters are thrust into foreign conditions, they often struggle to adapt. The pace and bounce of the pitches, the swing and seam movement of the ball, and the different types of spin bowling can be overwhelming for batters who are not accustomed to these conditions.
The Indian cricket team’s selection policy has also been criticized for prioritizing domestic performance over foreign experience. While it is essential to recognize and reward exceptional domestic performers, it is equally important to consider their ability to adapt to foreign conditions. The selection committee must strike a balance between selecting batters who have performed well in domestic cricket and those who have experience playing in foreign conditions.
So, what can be done to address this issue? One possible solution is to expose Indian batters to foreign conditions at a younger age. This can be achieved through sending teams to play in foreign countries, participating in overseas tournaments, and arranging practice matches against foreign teams. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) can also consider setting up cricket academies in foreign countries, where young Indian batters can train and learn to adapt to different conditions.
Another solution is to modify the domestic cricket structure to simulate foreign conditions. This can be done by preparing pitches that mimic the conditions found in foreign countries. For example, pitches with more bounce and pace can be prepared to help batters adapt to the conditions found in countries like South Africa and Australia.
In conclusion, Sanjay Manjrekar’s claim that an Indian batter becomes an NRI when he scores heavily in domestic cricket and gets selected for India is thought-provoking. While it may seem like a drastic statement, it highlights the challenges faced by Indian batters when they are thrust into foreign conditions. The Indian cricket team’s selection policy, domestic cricket structure, and preparation methods must be re-evaluated to address this issue. By exposing Indian batters to foreign conditions at a younger age, modifying the domestic cricket structure, and striking a balance between domestic performance and foreign experience, the Indian cricket team can produce batters who can excel in all conditions.
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