ENG vs IND: Sanjay Manjrekar picks India XI for second Test, omits Ravindra Jadeja

India dropped Ravichandran Ashwin in the first test of the England tour that ended in a draw thanks to rain. India needed 157 runs on the final day of the test to go 1-Nil up in the series in Trent Bridge but rain played a spoilsport with both the teams having had an equal chance of winning the game.

Indian lower order batting has been an issue for a long time and there haven’t been any contributions from the bowlers with the bat. It is absurd to expect bowlers to bat well but that’s a necessity now for India due to their underperforming middle order.

Former Indian player Sanjay Manjrekar picked his XI for the 2^nd game where he left the 2^nd best Indian batsman in the first test.

Salty Sanjay Manjrekar

Ravindra Jadeja has improved his batting like no other Indian player in the last 2 years or so. He averages 48 with the bat away from home in 6 tests since 2019. That is better than Indian middle order trio. He is the 2^nd best batter in moving conditions and he showed his worth with a brilliant 56 off 86 balls and was the 2^nd highest run getter for India in the first innings in first test.

Virat Kohli Lands in Big Trouble ahead of ENG vs IND Test Series. Check Details

The history between Sanjay Manjrekar and Ravindra Jadeja is well known and the controversial commentator has dropped Ravindra Jadeja from his playing 11 for the 2^nd test at Lord’s.

He retained the top 5 that played the first test but replaced Ravindra Jadeja with Hanuma Vihari. This is what he had to say about it.

A slightly controversial selection because I will like to get a specialist batsman at No.6, some depth in the batting because two or three batsmen are out of form and the ball moves a little as well in England. I feel if Rishabh Pant comes at No. 7, he can prove even more dangerous and can play very well with the tail-enders. I am playing Vihari because the last Test match he played, he batted for 2.5 hours to save India.

He also left Shardul Thakur and brought in Ravichandran Ashwin at #8.

ENG vs IND, 1st Test, Day 3 Live: Ollie Robinson shoulder-barge with KL Rahul – WATCH

Sanjay Manjrekar’s playing 11 for 2^nd test

Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(C), Ajinkya Rahane(VC), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Ravichandran Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj

BAN vs AUS Live: Nathan Ellis Hat-trick on T20I Debut