Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar lashed out at Rohit Sharma for promoting himself as an opener in the fourth Test match against Australia at the MCG on Friday. Rohit was dismissed after scoring only three runs while playing a half-hearted shot against Pat Cummins.
The Indian skipper had returned with scores of 3, 6, and 10 before the MCG Test in the ongoing series. On the other hand, KL Rahul has been the best opener in the series as he has returned with scores of 26, 77, 37, 7, and 84 before the fourth Test.
Rahul batted at number three on Friday after Rohit decided to open the innings but the Karnataka batter was dismissed by a peach of delivery from Australian skipper Pat Cummins after scoring 24 runs.
“When you play well against Australia, you are respected a lot. KL Rahul, who has been India’s best batter in this series, has scored runs at the top, put on a record stand as well. India moved him out of his preferred position just so that Rohit Sharma can get an opportunity to return to form This is the wrong way of thinking,” Sanjay Manjrekar said on Star Sports during commentary
In the pre-match press conference, Rohit had said he would not disturb the opening combination but promoted himself to the top.
“Press conference mei Rohit Sharma ne kaha thha ki voh disturb nahi karna chahte Yashasvi Jaiswal aur KL Rahul ki joh position hai, lekin jab match ki shuruvaat hui, toh bilkul disturb kiya unhone (Rohit Sharma had said in the press conference that he does not wish to disturb the positions of Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul. But, when the match began, he certainly disturbed it),” Manjrekar added
Earlier, Rohit had said that KL Rahul deserves to open the innings after returning with scores of 26 and 77 in the opening Test at Perth.
“He (Rahul) will open the innings. I will play somewhere in the middle. Based on what has happened and what KL has shown outside of India, you know, he probably deserves that place at this point in time. And, you know, it is something that has given us success in the first Test, to have that big partnership with Jaiswal on the other side,” Rohit Sharma had said ahead of the second Test in Adelaide
At stumps on the second day, India were 164-5 and they still trail by 310 runs.
