Sanjay Manjrekar and Aakash Chopra have contrasting opinions on Karun Nair's omission

Chopra put forth the examples of Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay.

Published - 07 Sept 2018, 17:58 IST | Updated - 07 Sept 2018, 17:58 IST

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India are currently playing the final contest of the five-match Test series against England at Kennington Oval in London. The fate of the series has already been sealed with the Three Lions winning the fourth encounter at The Ageas Bowl in Southampton by 60 runs. Having already lost the series, Virat Kohli and his helpless men have nothing, but pride to play for.

The Brits have gone unchanged for the match and will want to win the match and end their campaign on a resounding note. The visiting team has made a couple of changes prior to the last match. Ravichandran Ashwin, who has been suffering from a stiff hip, was replaced by all-round cricketer Ravindra Jadeja. Moreover, Hanuma Vihari got his maiden international cap.

Vihari makes his debut

Vihari has been in prime form in the domestic circuit and was earlier picked in India’s squad for the final two matches. The selection also meant that Karun Nair, who has been with the national team ever since the first Test, hasn’t got the opportunity. He last played in India’s Test series against Australia back in March 2017 in Dharamshala.

In the meantime, Sanjay Manjrekar, the cricketer turned commentator, reckons that Vihari’s selection doesn’t warrant questioning by any means. He believes that Vihari has a better technique than Nair owing to which he has been selected.

He took to Twitter and wrote, “If Hanuma Vihari was picked ahead of Karun Nair because the team management thinks he has a better defensive technique, I support the selection. Cricket merit over protocol any day for me. #ENGvsIND,”

Here is Manjrekar’s tweet

If Hanuma Vihari was picked ahead of Karun Nair because the team management thinks he has a better defensive technique, I support the selection. Cricket merit over protocol any day for me.#ENGvsIND
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) September 7, 2018

However, Chopra disagreed with Manjrekar. He put forth the examples of Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay and questioned Manjrekar’s opinions. Chopra replied and wrote, “Does Vijay have a better defensive technique than Dhawan?? #JustAsking,”