Former cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar and Sanjay Bangar have sparked fresh debates over India’s squad selection for the upcoming ODI series against England, scheduled to begin on February 6. During their discussion on Star Sports, both experts named their preferred 15-member squads but offered contrasting views on reserve players and middle-order options.
Rishabh Pant Overlooked, KL Rahul Retains Keeper’s Role
Both Manjrekar and Bangar agreed on KL Rahul as the first-choice wicketkeeper, supported by Sanju Samson as the backup, leaving no room for Rishabh Pant. Pant, who returned to competitive cricket in mid-2023, has struggled to make a significant impact in ODIs, prompting his omission.
“Pant has been away from cricket for a long time and never had consistent form in ODIs,” said Bangar, advocating for Rahul’s experience and ability to handle pressure. Manjrekar echoed this sentiment, stating, “Samson offers a big-hitting option in the last 10 overs, but Pant hasn’t done enough to warrant a spot.”
Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul Anchor the Middle Order
Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul emerged as the consensus choices for the No. 4 and No. 5 spots in the batting lineup. Both players played pivotal roles during the 2023 ODI World Cup, with Iyer impressing in the middle overs and Rahul excelling as a reliable finisher and wicketkeeper.
“Iyer and Rahul are perfect fits for their roles,” Bangar explained. “Iyer had a fantastic World Cup, and Rahul’s spin-playing ability makes him ideal at No. 5.”
Sarfaraz Khan and Tilak Varma: Intriguing Middle-Order Options
While agreeing on the main middle-order batters, Manjrekar suggested exploring unconventional options like Sarfaraz Khan and Tilak Varma for future series. Praising Sarfaraz’s domestic performances, he said, “Sarfaraz is an unstoppable force in domestic cricket and could be a game-changer at No. 4.”
Tilak Varma was also floated as a potential No. 5 option, although Manjrekar ruled out Suryakumar Yadav as a middle-order candidate, reserving him for T20I formats.
Dhruv Jurel: A Potential Backup Wicketkeeper?
Manjrekar proposed Dhruv Jurel as a wildcard pick for the reserve wicketkeeper slot. Highlighting Jurel’s ability to stabilize innings during collapses, he remarked, “Jurel has a solid Test-match temperament and could be an asset at No. 5 in ODIs.” However, he maintained that KL Rahul would remain the first-choice option.
Final Squads for England ODI Series
Here’s how the two experts finalized their squads:
Sanjay Manjrekar’s XI:
Playing XI: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami
Reserves: Sanju Samson, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja, Sarfaraz Khan
Sanjay Bangar’s XI:
Playing XI: Shubman Gill, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami
Reserves: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Sanju Samson
As the series against England approaches, Ajit Agarkar and his selection panel face tough decisions, balancing experience and fresh talent in the squad while addressing concerns about India’s middle order and wicketkeeping options.
