“I would rather sacrifice a pace bowler” – Sanjay Manjrekar wants Washington Sundar as second spinner for first IND vs AUS 2024 Test in Perth
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has picked Washington Sundar in his India playing XI for the first game of the five-match series in Perth, beginning on Friday, November 22. Manjrekar pointed out how Sundar excelled against New Zealand, picking up 16 wickets in his two Tests.
The left-handed batter also chipped in with 88 runs, including unbeaten scores of 18 and 38 in the first innings of the last two Tests, respectively.
Notably, Sundar played a solitary Test against Australia in Brisbane during the 2020-21 series. The spinner bagged four wickets and chipped in with 62 and 22, respectively. His all-round performance helped India win the game by three wickets before sealing the series 2-1.
Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo:
“Well, there’s a track record of Indian cricket, trusting the spinners. One in 1977, when India played three spinners and it was very close Test match. More recently Kumble and Sehwag playing as spinners. Sehwag got a couple of wickets, [including] Adam Gilchrist."
“So, I believe that if you’ve got quality bowlers and after the kind of performance of Washi showed in that last series. I mean, who has the heart and wants to drop somebody like him plus the kind of batting depth he had? So, I would rather sacrifice a pace bowler and have somebody like Washi,” he added.
“I can stand on the rooftops and defend my playing XI” – Sanjay Manjrekar on picking two spinners for first Test against Australia in Perth
Sanjay Manjrekar backed his playing XI after including two spinners in the form of Ravindra Jadeja and Sundar. He said in the same interaction:
“Absolutely, I can stand on the rooftops and defend my playing XI because it is the most pragmatic approach to the playing XI rather than going back to convention and past as well. Just looking today and the kind of limited resources that you have in this kind of [situation] where you have very few players to choose from.”
“You have a Washington Sundar who’s had a brilliant series and plus the thing that if you got bounce, some spinners can make a mark and Washi could be one of those and he’s already got runs as a batter in Australia. I mean, how can you leave Washington Sundar out is my question and that’s why He’s forced his way into the playing XI despite the kind of history that Perth has,” he added.
Sanjay Manjrekar’s India playing XI for 1stTest: Abhimanyu Easwaran, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Dhruv Jurel, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Akash Deep.