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 against South Africa in the recently concluded Test series. 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 come up with a unique observation, stating that an Indian batter becomes an NRI (Non-Resident Indian) when he scores heavily in domestic cricket and gets selected for India.
Manjrekar’s statement may seem confusing at first, but it highlights the issue of Indian batters struggling to adjust to conditions outside of India. According to Manjrekar, when a batter performs exceptionally well in domestic cricket, he gets selected for the Indian team and is immediately thrown into the deep end, playing Test matches abroad. This, Manjrekar believes, makes them poorly prepared for the conditions they face in India.
To support his claim, Manjrekar cited the examples of cricketers like Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant. These players have played nine to 12 Tests away from home in the last two years, which, according to Manjrekar, has left them struggling to adapt to Indian conditions. The lack of experience in playing on Indian pitches has resulted in these batters struggling to perform consistently, even on home soil.
Manjrekar’s observation raises an important question about the Indian cricket team’s selection process and the preparation of its players. While the Indian Premier League (IPL) and other domestic tournaments have provided a platform for young players to showcase their talent, it seems that the transition from domestic cricket to international cricket is not as smooth as it should be.
The Indian team’s recent performances have been a testament to this fact. Despite having a talented pool of players, the team has struggled to perform consistently, especially outside of India. The 0-2 defeat against South Africa is a case in point, where the Indian batters failed to adapt to the conditions, resulting in two comprehensive defeats.
So, what can be done to address this issue? Manjrekar’s statement suggests that the Indian team needs to find a way to prepare its players better for conditions outside of India. This could involve sending teams to play in foreign conditions, arranging practice matches, and providing players with more opportunities to gain experience in different conditions.
Another approach could be to have a more robust selection process, where players are selected based on their performance in different conditions, rather than just their domestic record. This would ensure that players who are selected for the Indian team are better equipped to handle the challenges of international cricket.
In conclusion, Sanjay Manjrekar’s statement highlights a critical issue facing the Indian cricket team. The fact that Indian batters struggle to adapt to conditions outside of India is a concern that needs to be addressed. By providing players with more opportunities to gain experience in different conditions and having a more robust selection process, the Indian team can hope to improve its performance and become a more consistent and formidable force in international cricket.
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