Sanjay Manjrekar questioned BCCI’s decision to back KL Rahul over in-form Abhimanyu Easwaran, especially after India’s recent defeat against New Zealand. He urged selectors to choose players on merit.
Manjrekar Criticizes BCCI’s Choice of Rahul Over Easwaran
After India‘s 0-3 home series defeat to New Zealand, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has criticised the BCCI’s decision to support KL Rahul over Abhimanyu Easwaran for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia.
Manjrekar pointed to Rahul’s inconsistent performances, questioning the selectors’ ongoing faith in the wicketkeeper-batsman.
Easwaran, who has been in excellent form with four centuries in his last four matches, was anticipated to open in place of captain Rohit Sharma, who is reportedly unavailable for the first Test due to family commitments.
However, Rahul was also called up to Australia for an India A match, sparking criticism over his selection.
India’s ‘Panic Mode’ and BCCI’s Faith in Rahul
Manjrekar remarked that the move to pit Rahul against Easwaran reflects the BCCI’s ‘panic mode’ following India’s defeat against New Zealand.
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Despite Rahul’s underwhelming performances and a modest Test average of 33, BCCI’s preference over players like Sarfaraz Khan and Easwaran, who have shown consistent domestic performances, has left many questioning the selection approach.
“Clearly, India is in panic mode. They are a bit shaken by what happened against New Zealand at home. And that’s when plans start to go awry. And that is where I believe that one has to actually look at it in a different way, where you think there’s nothing to lose here,” he said.
Manjrekar argued that Rahul’s return for the Australia match seems more about faith than form, hinting at the BCCI’s unwillingness to explore new talent.
Easwaran’s Case for Selection
Easwaran has consistently proven himself in the domestic circuit, yet selectors appear hesitant to place faith in him.
Manjrekar pointed out that even without a standout record against Australia A, Easwaran represents a fresh option and should be given a chance based on his domestic form.
The former cricketer argued that sometimes unexpected players rise to the occasion and perform well, so selectors should not overlook players who have earned their place on merit.
Manjrekar urged the selectors to “do the right thing” by prioritising players who have earned their spot through domestic success.
“Maybe Abhimanyu Easwaran hasn’t convinced them as much. But it’s not for us to play God and decide that maybe Abhimanyu Easwaran won’t get run in the Test match. We’ve had many examples in the past where players have surprised you by the performances. Sometimes you yourself are surprised by your own sort of performance as to the height that you reach. So keep it simple and make the right choice.”
Rahul’s Reliance
He highlighted that ongoing reliance on Rahul could hinder the team’s growth by limiting opportunities for new players like Easwaran.
“So that is the time when you go back and do the right thing. And play players who deserve to get a chance. KL Rahul. You know, I don’t know, there’s some fascination that the team management, selectors have for him that they just want him part of the playing 11, whether it’s at the top or down the order.
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