'Said a Few Weeks Back': Ex-India cricketer urges Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to participate in Duleep Trophy amid struggle against Bangladesh

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar opens up on India's top order's performance after they failed to perform in the 1st innings of the 1st Test match against Bangladesh at MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. He reckoned that senior players like of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should feature in the Duleep Trophy. Both Rohit and Kohli just scored 6 runs respectively in the first innings and Shubman Gill got out on a duck. 

Speaking to ESPNCricinfo, the former cricketer-turned-pundit reflected on the day's play, noting that the pitch conditions made it a particularly challenging time for the hosts, who batted first.

Reacting to the dismissals, Manjrekar was also understanding of the fact that the conditions proved to be tricky to begin with, “When you have to bat on a pitch like this. First up, Rohit Sharma was going to bowl as well, so they all saw the pick and realised the first hour or maybe the whole session was going to be tricky. The case that it’s something you get at virtually every stadium where the first hour is challenging,” he shared.

“Rohit Sharma had his work cut out you know he was doing what he does best, to take his time. But you know two good balls in the right length got him into trouble,” he added.

 

Speaking on Gill and Kohli’s dismissal, Manjrekar said that it is the same manner with which he has been dismissed for quite some time, once again the ace-batter was caught playing a delivery that was well outside the off-stump line.

ALSO READ: 'He was unlucky when you get': Former Indian cricketer defends Shubman Gill for Duck in IND vs BAN 1ST Test
ALSO READ: Travis Head runs riot with blistering 154 to make light work of England's 316-run target as Australia record thumping 7-wicket win in 1st ODI

Observing the struggles of the senior players, Manjrekar reiterated his belief that Rohit and Kohli could have participated in the Duleep Trophy to better prepare for the upcoming Tests.

 

“I said a few weeks back as well that considering the amount of international matches Rohit and Virat played in the last five years, they could have been picked for the Duleep Trophy and I’m sure the time out there would have just held them at least in the first innings where they suddenly came out cold and having had to bat first,” he commented.

 

After India's top order failed to perform, veteran cricketers Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja put a stand of 195 runs stand to end Day 1 in favour of the host.  Ashwin (102 not out) and Jadeja (86 not out)  joined an illustrious group of Indian batting pairs that includes Kapil Dev and Syed Kirmani, as they became only the third pair to exceed 500 partnership runs for the seventh wicket or lower in Tests on home soil. 

MORE ON SPORTS TAK
'Was really sweating, getting a bit tired...': Ravichandran Ashwin reveals how Ravindra Jadeja helped him for dominant ton in IND vs BAN Test

Rahul Dravid's big statement on Gautam Gambhir's coaching style amidst IND vs BAN Test series, says 'He has got a lot of...'

R Ashwin reveals how Rishabh Pant inspired him to rescue India with phenomenal hundred in 1st Test vs BAN, says 'On a surface like this...'