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Manjrekar Raises Concerns For Kohli, Rohit: 'No Warm-Up Matches Might Make Difference'

Sakshi Sharma

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in Test cricket (Source:@ImTanujSingh,x.com)Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in Test cricket (Source:@ImTanujSingh,x.com)

As India gears up for the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar series against Australia, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has raised his concerns on the team's preparations. He expressed concern over the team's decision to forgo warm-up matches. 

According to Manjrekar, Indian stalwarts like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma would have benefited from playing practice games ahead of the challenging series. It is also important to mention that Kohli and Rohit have had a disappointing series with bat against New Zealand. 

The five-match Test series, which begins on November 22, 2024, in Perth, comes at a critical time for India. The team recently suffered a crushing 3-0 defeat against New Zealand on home soil. 

This has led to questions about India's current form and their decision to skip warm-up matches before facing a formidable Australian side has also raised several question regarding team's approach and management's mindset.

Sanjay Manjrekar Raises Concern On India's Mindset Before BGT 

Speaking on ESPNcricinfo, Sanjay Manjrekar expressed his disappointment at India's decision to skip both external and intra-squad warm-up matches before the series. He added senior players like Virat Kohli and Sharma would have preferred some match practice to regain rhythm and adjust to the Australian conditions.

"The lack of a warm-up game might make a difference, especially this time because of the kind of form and confidence the team is going with to Australia. It has been a trend in recent times that there are less and less of warm-up games but on this particular tour, we saw that the India A batters struggle despite being in form in the Indian conditions. So yes, India desperately needed more warm-up games," Sanjay Manjrekar said on ESPNcricinfo.

It is also important to note that India had initially scheduled an intra-squad game against India A, but that plan was ultimately scrapped, raising concerns about the team's readiness to face Australia in their home conditions.

"India can counter with the fact that the team has performed better when they have been given fewer warm-up matches. In the 90s, we had many and yet lost 0-4 to Australia. I think Indian batters are getting used to conditions, but this time around, there are many young players. Maybe the earlier team which had experience did not need it, but I think we needed some games here, and I think that Virat and Rohit would have loved to play warm-up games," he further added.

As India heads into the first Test in Perth, the team's decision to skip warm-up matches ikely remain a topic of debate.