Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has voiced concerns regarding the selection choices made by the Indian cricket team management during the second Test against England. His primary focus was on the exclusion of young batter Sai Sudharsan after only one match. In a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Manjrekar highlighted that while victories can often mask questionable decisions, some selections were indeed surprising. He noted, “There were some very interesting selections made in the last game which I didn’t agree with. In the end, a win can put a cover on those decisions.”

Manjrekar expressed his belief that Sai Sudharsan, who performed reasonably well in the second innings, should not have been dropped so soon. He emphasized the importance of nurturing young talent for the future and advocated for Sudharsan to be positioned at No. 3 in the batting order. “I would like to see Sai Sudharsan at number three. Karun Nair is not a number three player in my book,” he stated, suggesting that Sudharsan deserves more opportunities to prove himself.

Despite his critique, Manjrekar also showed support for Karun Nair, acknowledging the emotional significance of his selection and return to the team. He suggested that Nair should be given another chance due to the narrative surrounding his comeback. “I would like Karun Nair to get one more chance just because of the story around his selection and comeback,” he said.

To accommodate Nair’s inclusion, Manjrekar proposed that Nitish Kumar Reddy could be moved down the batting order to make space for him. This strategic adjustment could potentially strengthen the team’s lineup and provide both players with opportunities to contribute effectively.