Selectors could look at players who have it in them to be future Test players and succeed in foreign conditions: Sanjay Manjrekar

After India's humiliating loss in the 2023 ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final against Australia at The Oval in London earlier in June, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar made a suggestion to the selectors. The defeat in the all-important Test match put the Indian squad under massive criticism for their dismal outing in the ICC knockout matches. Notably, apart from Ajinkya Rahane and Shardul Thakur, no Indian batter scored more than fifty runs in an innings in the one-off Test.

Manjrekar emphasised that Steve Smith and Travis Head, who rarely play limited-overs cricket, were the star performers for Australia in the WTC final. The former cricketer urged team India to look for players who will not be weary by the transition from the T20 format to the longest format of the game. 

“The game changers for Australia in the WTC final - Steve Smith and Travis Head - don’t play a lot of T20 cricket. So we have to find guys who are not going to be fatigued or don’t have to make the adjustments from IPL to Test cricket,” Manjrekar was quoted as saying by News 18. 

The 57-year-old went on to say that the selectors have to start rewarding the players who excel in domestic cricket and can succeed in overseas conditions. He also stated that he would love to see at least three new batters and new fast bowlers in the team for the upcoming Test series.

“About time we start rewarding the guys who are doing well in first-class cricket. And not just runs. The selectors could look at players who have it in them to be future Test players and succeed in foreign conditions. I would like to see at least three new batters come into play in the picture and new fast bowlers,” he added.

India's upcoming international assignment will be the West Indies tour in July-August, during which they will play two Tests, three ODIs, and five T20Is. The two-match Test series will be their first assignment in the new World Test Championship cycle (2023-25). Rohit Sharma and Co. is expected to reach West Indies by July 1.