“His selection was a blunder” - Sanjay Manjrekar disappointed with Indian team’s selection for the SCG Test

Former Indian cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has slammed the Indian team management for the poor selection of the playing XI for the series deciding Syndey Test. He stated that there was no place for Washington Sundar in the Indian XI for the New Year Test.

Washington Sundar has scored 114 runs from six innings and scalped four wickets with the ball in the recently concluded Border Gavaskar Trophy. Though India was in a decent position after the end of the second innings in Sydney, they suffered a six-wicket loss in just three days of the game.

Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Manjrekar asserted that picking Sundar on a grassy Syndey pitch where a pacer can do comparatively better, was a tactical blunder.

"It's crazy when you think of an important place in that Indian Test XI in a marquee series. Barring that fifty, Washington Sundar hasn't contributed with the bat much. I think he's a highly talented bowler. But, he has a place when the pitch is turning overseas. And with Jadeja already there, Nitish Kumar Reddy as well, plus Washington Sundar as well. I thought his selection was a blunder on a pitch like this,” Manjrekar told ESPNCricinfo.

Poor team selection was the reason behind India’s series defeat, feels Manjrekar

Furthermore, Manjrekar felt that in the last two tours to Australia, Indian management selected the XIs perfectly according to the players’ specialism. 

"The last two tours to Australia, India didn't have a single player who was played because of his second skill. They always focused on his main skill and that was good enough to get him into the side. The other skill was a bonus. Here, I thought India went the England way, when England was not winning,” he added.

With this 1-3 series defeat, India is out of WTC Final contention. South Africa and Australia have qualified for the WTC Final, which is scheduled to take place in June 2025 at The Lord’s.

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