Sanjay Manjrekar has made an interesting comment that it was England’s win in the first Test in Hyderabad on a spin-friendly track that forced India to not resort to making raging turners that were presented in the 2021 series against the same side.
Ben Stokes’ team found a way in Hyderabad – through two incredible performances from Ollie Pope and Tom Hartley in the second half of the match – to win the first Test by only 28 runs as India got bowled out for 202, chasing 231.
In the 2021 series against England, the pitches got more spin-friendly after India lost the first Test against Joe Root’s side. However, this time India went the opposite way and produced better surfaces – pitches on which the difference in the quality of bowling and batting attacks was more visible and pronounced, and hence India could thrash England in the rest of the series.
Sanjay Manjrekar believes that the loss in Hyderabad was a blessing in disguise for Team India as Hyderabad was the most spin-friendly surface of the series.
Speaking on ESPNcricinfo, Manjrekar said, “England made sure that India prepared better pitches. Better pitches in the sense that pitches that didn’t turn as much, because of what they did in Hyderabad. I think that was a fantastic win, and that’s the big takeaway for England in the way they beat India in the very first exposure on a typical turner.”
“You saw the Indian spinners for the first time rattled in a home series in the way the England batters played, and 420 in the second innings by England on that pitch just made sure that India didn’t again venture making another turner like that,” he added.
Sanjay Manjrekar happy to see India not get complacent in Dharamsala
Even though India had clinched the series with a 3-1 lead, the hosts were ruthless in the fifth Test in Dharamsala and won by an innings.
Sanjay Manjrekar, who has seen many an Indian sides over the past few decades, was pleased to see this ruthless mindset of the group.
The commentator added, “Complacency as a trait in Indian cricket disappeared a long time back. Post MS Dhoni, when Virat Kohli took charge of the Indian team, and when going was also tough, the spirits have never been down with that Indian team, and you see that especially when they are in the field. So, that was not going to happen.”
Next, it’s time for the T20 festival that is the IPL 2024.
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