India may have won the third T20I at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) on Sunday to level the three-match series 1-1, but former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar isn’t too pleased with the performances of batsman KL Rahul and wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant.
Manjrekar feels that their lack of consistency has meant that the team has had to play a bowler who can bat in the form of Krunal Pandya. The move to drop Yuzvendra Chahal hasn’t gone down too well with him either.
Taking to Twitter, Manjrekar wrote: “Rahul and Pant’s inconsistency with the bat inducing India (perhaps) to play Krunal Pandya – A bowler who bats. India would be a stronger team if Chahal plays & so does Krunal in place of a batsman. What do you guys think? #INDvAUS.”
Rahul and Pant’s inconsistency with the bat inducing India (perhaps)to play Krunal Pandya – A bowler who bats.
India would be a stronger team if Chahal plays & so does Krunal in place of a batsman. What do you guys think?#INDvAUS— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) November 25, 2018
Rahul and Pant both have had a series to forget. Rahul has not been able to make most his chances so far. He averages a meagre 13.50 while his strike rate is also under 100. He received a lot of flak on social media for his innings against Australia at the SCG. Rahul struggled to get going and scored 14 runs off 20 balls before getting out to Glenn Maxwell.
Meanwhile, Pant also disappointed after he departed for a golden duck in the must-win game at Sydney. Pant played a pull shot off Andrew Tye, the ball did not have the pace he was looking to work with and only managed to top-edge it to the Australian wicketkeeper Alex Carey who took the catch comfortably.
Therefore, Pant has become the first Indian wicketkeeper to get out for a golden duck in T20Is. The southpaw did not have a good series after he was picked ahead MS Dhoni for the tour. He was out for 20 off 15 balls in the 1st T20I at The Gabba which India lost by four runs.
