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The second Test match between India and New Zealand in Pune witnessed a controversial decision by the Indian team management regarding their batting order. With India struggling to chase a challenging target of 359 runs, the team found itself in a precarious situation after losing Rishabh Pant for a run out, leaving them at 127/4. In an attempt to salvage the situation, the Indian team opted to promote Washington Sundar up the batting order in place of Sarfaraz Khan, a move that attracted criticism from former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar.
Manjrekar, known for his insightful commentary, expressed his disapproval of the decision on ‘ESPNcricinfo’, stating that “The move to have Sarfaraz Khan bat down the order and sending Washington Sundar above him because he is a left-hander, those kind of things shouldn’t happen.” His argument rested on the fact that Sarfaraz, who batted at number four in the previous Bengaluru Test, had shown his ability to score runs quickly and aggressively, scoring a rapid 150. By promoting Sundar ahead of him, the Indian team seemed to prioritize the left-right combination over the potential for quick runs from a in-form batsman like Sarfaraz.
Manjrekar's critique highlights a broader issue of strategic decision-making in cricket. While the left-right combination can often be effective against pace bowlers, in this particular instance, it seemed to sacrifice a potential match-winning batsman. The decision also raised questions about the Indian team's confidence in Sarfaraz Khan's ability to handle pressure situations. Manjrekar's comments sparked debate among cricket enthusiasts, emphasizing the importance of well-thought-out strategies in crucial moments of a Test match. It remains to be seen how the Indian team will respond to the criticism and whether they will learn from this experience in future matches.