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. Many former cricketers and experts have been weighing in on the team’s performance, and one of the most interesting comments came from former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar. According to Manjrekar, an Indian batter becomes an NRI (Non-Resident Indian) when he scores heavily in domestic cricket and gets selected for the national team.
Manjrekar’s statement may seem confusing at first, but he explained that when a batter performs well in domestic cricket, he gets selected for the national team and ends up playing most of his matches abroad. This, in turn, makes him less familiar with the conditions in India, which can be a significant disadvantage when playing at home. 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 lack of experience in Indian conditions can be a significant factor in the team’s poor performance at home. When a batter is used to playing on foreign pitches, he may struggle to adjust to the spin-friendly tracks in India. This is exactly what happened in the recent Test series against South Africa, where the Indian batters failed to perform well on their home soil.
Manjrekar’s comments are not without merit. The Indian team has been struggling to find consistency in their batting lineup, and the lack of experience in Indian conditions is a significant factor. The team’s reliance on foreign pitches has made them less familiar with the conditions at home, which can be a significant disadvantage.
The concept of an NRI batter is an interesting one. It highlights the challenges that Indian cricketers face when playing at home after spending a significant amount of time abroad. The Indian Premier League (IPL) and other international tournaments have made it possible for Indian cricketers to play abroad more frequently, but this has also led to a lack of experience in Indian conditions.
So, what can be done to address this issue? One possible solution is to ensure that the Indian team plays more Test matches at home. This will give the batters more experience in Indian conditions and help them adjust to the spin-friendly tracks. Additionally, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) can also consider organizing more domestic tournaments that simulate the conditions found in international cricket.
Another solution is to identify young talent and give them more opportunities to play in Indian conditions. This can be done by selecting players who have performed well in domestic cricket and giving them a chance to play for the national team. This will not only give the young players more experience but also help the team to develop a stronger batting lineup.
In conclusion, Sanjay Manjrekar’s comments about Indian batters becoming NRIs when they score heavily in domestic cricket are thought-provoking. The lack of experience in Indian conditions is a significant factor in the team’s poor performance at home, and it is essential to address this issue to improve the team’s overall performance.
The Indian cricket team has a lot of talent, but it needs to be nurtured and developed. The team needs to find a way to balance their international schedule with domestic cricket, ensuring that the players get enough experience in Indian conditions. This will not only help the team to perform better at home but also develop a stronger batting lineup that can compete with the best teams in the world.
As the Indian team looks to bounce back from their 0-2 defeat in the Test series against South Africa, they need to take a closer look at their batting lineup and identify areas for improvement. The concept of an NRI batter is an interesting one, and it highlights the challenges that Indian cricketers face when playing at home after spending a significant amount of time abroad. By addressing this issue and finding ways to give the players more experience in Indian conditions, the team can develop a stronger batting lineup and perform better in the future.
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