Former India cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has stirred up a debate with his criticism of the decision to rest Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Jasprit Bumrah from the upcoming Duleep Trophy.
Manjrekar believes that these players, who have had ample rest, should have participated in the domestic tournament to gain match practice before the Test series against Bangladesh.
What did Sanjay Manjrekar say on decision to rest star players?
In a recent tweet, Manjrekar pointed out that, despite India playing 249 international matches over the past five years, Rohit Sharma has featured in only 59% of those games, Virat Kohli in 61%, and Jasprit Bumrah in just 34%.
BET NOW: Exclusive sign-up offers and bonuses when you bet on cricket action
He argued that given their reduced playing time, these players would have benefited from participating in the Duleep Trophy, which is set to begin on September 5, 2024, in Anantapur and Bengaluru.
India has played 249 international matches in the last 5 years. Rohit has played only 59% of those. Virat 61 % & Bumrah 34%. I see them as well rested India players. Could have been selected for the Duleep trophy.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) August 28, 2024
The Duleep Trophy is a domestic tournament that provides game time and preparation for players ahead of international fixtures. The absence of Kohli, Rohit, and Bumrah from the tournament has raised concerns about their readiness for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh.
Despite the presence of players like Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, KL Rahul, and Shubman Gill, the lack of experienced players in the Duleep Trophy team could impact their performance in the Tests.
Is Sanjay Manjrekar taking a dig at Gautam Gambhir?
This could be interpreted as a dig at current India coach Gautam Gambhir who is supposed to have allowed the senior players to decide whether they want to play or not.
He has also in the past taken a dig at Gambhir. Manjrekar was not happy with the hype and craze that followed Gambhir's appointment as the new Indian head coach. Gambhir had taken over the role from Rahul Dravid last month.
"No coach, Lalchand Rajput, Gary Kirsten & Dravid. Coaches when India won WCs in 1983, 2007, 2011 & 2023. It’s really about Indian cricket, not who the coach is. Time we stop thinking there is a direct correlation," Manjrekar had posted on X last month.
No coach, Lalchand Rajput, Gary Kirsten & Dravid. Coaches when India won WCs in 1983, 2007, 2011 & 2023.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) July 27, 2024
It’s really about Indian cricket, not who the coach is. Time we stop thinking there is a direct correlation.
However, his controversial opinion was not popular with the Indian fans on the platform, who felt that the commentator was attempting to take a needless dig at the new Indian head coach Gautam Gambhir.
Sunil Gavaskar’s support for Sanjay Manjrekar
Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar echoed Manjrekar’s sentiments in his column for Mid-day. Gavaskar suggested that Kohli and Rohit, both in their 30s, could benefit from participating in the Duleep Trophy to stay sharp and mentally refreshed.
While Gavaskar acknowledged the need for Bumrah to rest due to his recent injury history, he highlighted that the star batters could have used the domestic matches to fine-tune their form.
India is scheduled to play two Test matches against Bangladesh, starting on September 19, 2024, in Chennai and continuing on September 27, 2024, in Kanpur. The decision to rest these players for the Duleep Trophy ultimately rests with the players themselves.
Manjrekar’s comments have sparked a broader discussion about the role of domestic cricket in preparing international stars and the potential impact on team performance in major series.