"The pressure is more on the curators" - Sanjay Manjrekar believes India might go for rank-turners to bring Ashwin-Jadeja into play
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar believes the Men in Blue will resort to rank turners for the remainder of the series against New Zealand to overcome the unexpected 0-1 deficit. Rohit Sharma and company lost the first Test in Bengaluru by eight wickets, and risk losing their first series on home soil since 2012 if they falter again.
Despite playing three spinners, none of them had a telling impact on the proceedings. New Zealand scored 402 in the first innings, where Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav picked up three wickets apiece, while Ashwin had a forgettable outing with an economy rate of 5.88.
While defending a low target (107) in the final innings, the pacers were given preference with extended spells. By the time the spinners were introduced into the attack, the game was long gone.
Manjrekar noted how the curators might be pressed upon to prepare rank turners to give India the best chance of recovering in the series.
"The pressure is more on the curators now for the next two Test matches. I think one of the big takeaways was how Ashwin and Jadeja didn't quite make an impact on an Indian pitch that had a bit of turn. So obviously, they need more help, and that will be given," Manjrekar said on ESPNCricinfo.
"I guess India can win with seamers as well, but New Zealand seamers will use those conditions maybe as good or even better than the Indian seamers," he added
The second Test is scheduled to begin from Thursday, October 24, onwards at the MCA Stadium in Pune. The venue had prepared a notorious rank turner for the opening Test of the 2017 Border-Gavaskar series, which India lost by 333 runs.
"If the pitch turns out to be a rank-turner, it will make India's life that much easier" - Sanjay Manjrekar
India's last home Test series defeat came against England in 2012. In recent times, the Men in Blue have had the habit of losing the opening Test of the series, with even England amassing an early 1-0 lead earlier this year.
"I see India coming back, and even in the first Test, there was some champion performances that they put in after getting 46. To be competing right till the very end was just incredible. So, it is a very dangerous team with match winners who have great self belief. If the pitch turns out to be a rank-turner, it will make India's life that much easier," Manjrekar said in the same interview.
New Zealand have never won a Test series in India, with their recent triumph in Bengaluru being only their third Test win in the nation, and their first since 1988.