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 away from home. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has come up with a unique explanation for this phenomenon, stating that an Indian batter becomes like a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) when he scores heavily in domestic cricket and gets selected for the national team.
According to Manjrekar, when a batter performs exceptionally well in domestic cricket, he is quickly selected for the Indian team and starts playing a lot of cricket away from home. This, in turn, makes him less familiar with the conditions in India, making it difficult for him to perform well when the team plays 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 is a problem that we have been facing for a while now,” Manjrekar said. “When a batter scores heavily in domestic cricket, he becomes like an NRI. He is selected for the Indian team and starts playing a lot of cricket away from home. As a result, he becomes less familiar with the conditions in India, and when the team plays at home, he struggles to perform.”
Manjrekar’s comments have sparked a debate in the cricketing community, with some experts agreeing with his assessment and others disagreeing. While it is true that the Indian batters have struggled to perform consistently away from home, it is also important to consider other factors that may be contributing to this problem.
One of the main reasons for the Indian team’s struggles away from home is the lack of experience in playing in different conditions. The Indian team has been playing a lot of cricket at home in recent years, and as a result, the batters have become accustomed to the conditions in India. When they play away from home, they are often faced with unfamiliar conditions, which can make it difficult for them to adjust.
Another reason for the Indian team’s struggles is the lack of quality bowling attacks in domestic cricket. The Indian domestic cricket scene is dominated by flat pitches, which make it difficult for bowlers to develop their skills. As a result, when the Indian team plays against quality bowling attacks away from home, they often struggle to cope.
Despite these challenges, there are some positive signs for the Indian team. The emergence of young batters like Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal has been a welcome development, and they have shown the potential to become world-class players. The Indian team also has a strong bowling attack, which has been performing well in recent years.
In conclusion, Sanjay Manjrekar’s comments about Indian batters becoming like NRIs when they score heavily in domestic cricket and get selected for the national team are thought-provoking. While there may be some truth to his assessment, it is also important to consider other factors that may be contributing to the Indian team’s struggles away from home. The Indian team needs to find a way to balance the experience of playing at home with the need to develop skills that can be applied in different conditions. With the right approach and strategy, the Indian team can overcome their challenges and become a more consistent and successful team in the future.
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