Former Indian cricketer turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has used some bold words to criticize the performance of India’s talented bowler Ravichandran Ashwin for his performance on the recently concluded tour to South Africa.
Ravi Ashwin, who made an ODI comeback in the ODI format after a gap of more than four years for the 3-match ODI series, failed to give the best of his abilities. Ashwin returned with a figure of 53 runs for one wicket in the first ODI and scored 7-runs with the bat. In the second ODI match, Ashwin couldn’t pick a wicket and gave away 68 runs in 10 overs he bowled. Ashwin was rested for the final ODI match of the series.
Sanjay Manjrekar, who has often been criticized by Manjrekar for his performance in SENA countries, once again slammed Ashwin for his dismal show against Proteas. He even criticized the national selectors’ idea to bring Ravi Ashwin back into the squad, saying:
“I have been maintaining right from the start of the series that he has sneaked back into India’s white-ball plans for no reason”.
“See Ashwin, I have been maintaining right from the start of the series that he has sneaked back into India’s white-ball plans for no reason.”
“It is not that he has made a strong claim for a comeback, but somehow the thinking has changed and he has come back into the plans. Hopefully, now, India will realise that he is not an impact spinner that India needs,”
He further added that team India needs Kuldeep Yadav back in the squad to solve the middle-overs struggle. He said:
“India need to go back to those times where they used to get wickets in the middle overs. So this spin attack that India has is not their best and Ashwin has a long-standing track record of that but Yuzvendra Chahal who has been a successful Indian white-ball spinner but you see that his powers may be waning.
“This spin attack is not the ideal one for India on a long-term basis. It is time for India to go back to Kuldeep Yadav and he has the record of running through sides. Kuldeep will come back into the reckoning,” Manjrekar added.
Furthermore, Sanjay Manjrekar also talked about the performance of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who was seen struggling badly. Manjrekar feels that Bhuvneshwar Kumar has found it difficult to perform and give the best of his abilities.
He also showered praises on Deepak Chahar for his stunning performance. He said that the Indian team management should prefer Chahar over Bhuvneshwar. He said:
“Bowling wise, Bhuvneshwar Kumar had given signs even before this series that he is finding it difficult to get back to his best. I guess that issue is closed after seeing his performance in the series. And Deepak Chahar, the one ball to get Janneman Malan, should tell selectors that he is a better option,”
Manjrekar concluded by saying that the just-concluded tour to South Africa was one of the poorest shows by the Men in Blue against Proteas. He said:
“The way the match ended sums up the whole trip for India. It has to be one of the poorest Indian tours to South Africa. That’s how it was destined to be. It just wasn’t India’s time in South Africa. It is a bad loss,”
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