'Cannot be a one-hundred wonder' - Sanjay Manjrekar urges KL Rahul to carry his form through Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy

Former India batter and ace commentator Sanjay Manjrekar stressed the significance of in-form batters like Rishabh Pant and KL Rahul, who did well in the first Test against England, continuing their form throughout the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. 

India lost the opening Test at Headingley, Leeds, by five wickets, but the likes of Pant and Rahul stood out with excellent batting displays in both innings. While Pant became the first Indian wicketkeeper and second overall to register centuries in both innings of a Test match, Rahul contributed with 42 and 137.

Manjrekar opined that Pant loves the red-ball format and is enjoying his batting at the moment. The former lauded the 27-year-old for the kind of mental strength he showed in the first Test and said that he is hungry for runs.

"I think he (Rishabh Pant) will (carry his form to the second game) because it seems like he enjoys batting in Test cricket. Any batter who gets two hundreds in a Test match, it takes a lot out of you mentally, not so much physically, getting a hundred in the first innings, and 48 hours later, you have the same kind of reserve to get another hundred. So that is a hallmark of an exceptional player," the former India batter said during the 'Game Plan' show on Star Sports.

Apart from Pant, Manjrekar said that Rahul will also have to play a key role in the four Test matches left on India's tour of England.

"Rishabh Pant enjoys Test matches. He has not got enough runs. So he is hungry. I see Pant carrying his form, but there is another senior batter in the team, who now has got no choice but to carry his form right through the series. Indian cricket needs him badly, and KL Rahul cannot be a one-hundred wonder or a one-Test-match performer," he added.

The second Test is scheduled to be played at Edgbaston, Birmingham. The much-awaited encounter is set to run from July 2 to July 6.