Sanjay Manjrekar bats for Cheteshwar Pujara as opener for MCG Test

Pujara has opened the innings in four Tests before.

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Sanjay Manjrekar
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Sanjay Manjrekar. (Photo Source: Twitter)

The Indian team management will have its task cut out when it sits down to finalise the openers for the crucial second Test against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). While Mayank Agarwal is confirmed to open, there is little clarity over who will be his partner. Prithvi Shaw is unlikely to get a chance after his consistent failures especially in the first Test where he was out for 0 and 4.

The young opener had failed to impress in the tour games too but the team management still showed faith in him. However, Shaw failed to justify the faith as he flopped in both the innings of the Adelaide Test. There have been calls from several quarters to replace him with Shubman Gill as the latter impressed during the tour games.

However, it won’t be very surprising if India decide against giving Gill a chance for the crucial game because of his inexperience as he is yet to make his debut in Tests. There are some other options too like recalling KL Rahul into the playing eleven or trying out Hanuma Vihari as an opener like the previous tour of Australia.

Sanjay Manjrekar’s suggestion

Only time will tell who opens India’s innings against Australia in the MCG Test. And ahead of the game, Sanjay Manjrekar has come up with another suggestion for the opener’s slot. The former India batsman believes that Cheteshwar Pujara could be a good option for the role. Sanjay Manjrekar opined that there is not much difference in conditions for an opener or the No.3 batsman.

He stated that promoting Pujara could make his life easier and it would also give India a better chance of getting a good start. Sanjay Manjrekar took to Twitter to express his opinion, tweeting:

“I have batted no 3 overseas. You are invariably going in early, facing bowlers with their tails up from ball no 1. Anyone for Pujara opening? To make his life easier? + better chance of not losing a quick wkt & opposition being on top early. Tell me your top 4 next Test,” his tweet read.

Well, Pujara is not new to opening in Tests. So far, he has opened in 4 Tests and has a stunning record as an opener. In those four games, he has smashed 348 runs in just five innings with the help of 1 century and two fifties.

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