Sanjay Manjrekar claimed that while T20 cricket can bring stardom and financial success, the honor still lies in Test cricket and young Vaibhav Suryavanshi still has a lot to learn and develop to enhance his technical skills.
Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar is widely acknowledged in India as a critic who does not shy away from blaming cricketers and blaming them in terms of their stroke play. There have been many clashes with some big names in his playing eleven.
Just 15 years old, Suryavanshi has dominated world cricket in recent times and made his IPL debut with a brilliant century in the last season of the IPL. He has maintained his form at the international level in the last one year and has scored another century in this IPL career.
Sanjay Manjrekar backs Vaibhav Suryavanshi for a place in India’s T20 squad, “I think he has done a lot.”
In the IPL, Vaibhav Suryavanshi has thrashed many cricketers in his campaign against world-class opposition and their fast bowlers such as Jasprit Bumrah, Josh Hazlewood, Kagiso Rabada and Pat Cummins.
At the Under-19 level, he scored a brilliant 175 in the World Cup final and also scored centuries against all major opponents in all three formats of the game. He is the youngest cricketer in IPL history to score two centuries in the beginning of his career. That’s why Sanjay Manjrekar has praised the dominance of the young cricketer.
“Looking at the IPL as a platform to stake a claim for the Indian T20 team, and also keeping an eye on his performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he scored a century.” [vs Maharashtra]I think he’s done a lot. If someone is lighting up this stage like this, he is ready,” he said on Sportstar’s Insight Edge podcast.
“He may be ready, but…”: Manjrekar’s introspective statement on Team India’s selection process
While Suryavanshi has indeed been dominating world cricket with the bat, he has scored 404 runs in 10 matches in this edition of the IPL at a strike rate of 237.64. He has not backed down even in the face of tough opposition.
“He may be ready, but are others ready to make way? Because there is a huge rush for the opening slots in India,” he said. Sanjay Manjrekar’s suspicions appear to be justified, as India actually have a number of cricketers who are already in line for that opening spot.
With Abhishek Sharma having a brilliant IPL season and Sanju Samson scoring two centuries, Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Prabhsimran Singh, Priyansh Arya and Sai Sudarshan are all performing brilliantly to cement a spot at the top.
“If you want him to earn respect from people,” Manjrekar’s big advice for young Suryavanshi
Sanjay Manjrekar further said that Vaibhav Suryavanshi belongs to the new age cricketers who thrive on an aggressive boundary-hitting approach. However, he believes that his approach is a major drawback for him in the longest format of the game.
“Take the consistent T20 batsman in recent years; Suryavanshi stays leg-side and hits the ball through point on middle stump as he makes that space. In Test cricket, it is advisable to get close to the ball. You will not be able to score runs in England, Australia or South Africa by staying away from it,” he explained.
Concluding, Sanjay Manjrekar pointed out that T20 cricket may attract money and attention, but respect really lies in Test cricket, and it is still that format that makes one a highly respected cricketer.
“If you want your kid to become famous and rich, then T20 batting is for you. If you want him to earn respect from people like us, the critics, he has to get closer to the line of the ball,” he said.
Also read: Jitesh Sharma rejected Sanju Samson, chose Adam Gilchrist but called this veteran as the GOAT wicketkeeper of IPL.