Sanjay Manjrekar attributes team selection to India’s loss at Gabba

India lost their first T20I match against Australia at the Gabba in Brisbane on Wednesday by 4 runs and there were mixed reactions after the defeat at the very onset of the high-voltage tour. While former opener Virender Sehwag and current spinner Ravichandran Ashwin remained optimistic about an absorbing series despite the defeat, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar had a critical point about the visitors and their team selection.

India played Krunal Pandya, who recently made his international debut, in this game and the left-arm orthodox bowler was plundered by the Australian batsmen at will. He finished with the figures of 55 in four overs with no wickets at an average of 13.75 and conceded six sixes, three of which were hit in successive deliveries by Glenn Maxwell. Australia scored 158 for 4 in 17 overs when rain interrupted and India were set a target of 174 in as many overs as per the DLS Method.

Why Krunal ahead of Chahal, asks Manjrekar

Manjrekar was unhappy with the selection of Krunal over a more experienced spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and opined in a tweet that India could’ve been chase 20 runs less if the leg-spinner was picked instead of Krunal, the brother of ace Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya. He also advised that India should play Krunal as a batsman if they wanted and not as a replacement of Chahal, who has 44 scalps in 27 T20Is so far.

Krunal’s forgettable bowling performance earned him a dubious record. He is now placed third in the list of Indian bowlers with worst bowling figures in T20Is and the irony is that Chahal tops that list (for his none for 64 runs conceded in four overs against South Africa in Centurion in February this year) with Joginder Sharma the second spot holder.

Krunal averages 34 plus in batting in first-class cricket with eight fifties. His skills with the willow were seen in his debut series against the Windies recently when he scored an unbeaten 21 to see his side home. Krunal though failed to impress with the bat in Brisbane where he fell for just 2.

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