Sanjay Manjrekar has launched a scathing attack on the Indian team management, including captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir, for demoting KL Rahul in the batting order in the fourth Test against Australia at the MCG. With Rohit failing at No.6, the decision-makers brought him back to open the innings while sending Rahul to No.3 position. Shubman Gill. However, everything back-fired as Rohit managed just three runs in the first innings.
Manjrekar highlighted the mistake made by the visiting team. “KL Rahul has been the best opener from both sides. He has batted with freedom, taking his time before playing strokes. Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal added 201 runs for the opening partnership in the first Test, but India happily broke the pair for a woefully out-of-form top player to score runs.
“Just to give another chance to a big name, Rahul has been sent to the No.3 position. For me, it is a poor call, and with Rohit’s dismissal the move has failed,” Sanjay Manjrekar told Mark Nicholas.
Rohit skipped the first Test because of the birth of his second child, making way for Rahul to open the innings. He scored 77 runs in the second innings in Perth, with India winning the contest by 295 runs. Rohit decided to stick with the opening pair of KL and Jaiswal for the second Test upon his return. It was an ordinary game for the two openers, but Rahul managed to justify the decision by scoring 84 in the first essay of the third Test, which ended in a draw.
A similar batting order was expected for the Boxing Day Test, but the management changed everything for Rohit.
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