Sanjay Manjrekar laments India's series draw with 'most beatable' South Africa

Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar isn’t happy with India’s performance in the two-match Test series against South Africa. The visitors were rattled by Proteas pacers in the first Test in Centurion while the Rohit Sharma-led side won the second Test after South Africa were bundled out for 55 and 176 runs respectively. 

However, Manjrekar stated that he would have been disappointed had he been the coach or the captain of the team. He added this was the most beatable South African side but India eventually failed to create history, as they are still looking for their maiden Test series win in the rainbow nation. The 58-year-old also complained of the lack of Test matches between the teams and added that the three-match ODI series wasn’t needed.

“If I am the coach or the captain, I will look at it as a regret. If you look at the past and the teams India had to beat in South Africa, they were tough teams. This was the most beatable South African team. Dean Elgar's 185 prevented India from actually creating history,” Manjrekar said while talking to ESPNcricinfo.

“Said it before as well that there was no point of a three-match ODI series between the T20Is and the Test with it not even being an ODI World Cup year,” he added.

South Africa doesn’t give that much importance to Test cricket: Manjrekar

South Africa’s decision to send a second-string squad to New Zealand during the SA20 has created a lot of buzz in the cricketing world. A lot of former cricketers have condemned the act as Manjrekar recently added that the Proteas don’t give much importance to Test cricket and mentioned that the hosts would have lost the first Test against India, had Dean Elgar wasn’t part of the squad.

“Imagine this South African team without Dean Elgar. They would have lost the first Test. They don't give that much importance to Test cricket as well so I don't think the future is rosy. The bowling wasn't impressive too,” Manjrekar said.