IND vs ENG: Manjrekar Calls for Thakur's Ouster, Urges India to Unleash Kuldeep's Spin in Second Test

Manjrekar Advocates for Spin, Calls for Thakur's Exclusion After First Test Loss

Following India's defeat to England in the first Test, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar is urging a strategic overhaul of the team's bowling attack. He suggests that left-arm wrist spinner Kuldeep Yadav should replace Shardul Thakur in the second Test, aiming to bolster India's bowling capabilities after England successfully chased down a target of 371 runs.

Ravindra Jadeja was criticized for his performance vs England in the first Test (Image by George Wood/Getty Images)

While Jasprit Bumrah shone with a five-wicket haul in the first innings, the other pace bowlers, including Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Shardul Thakur, struggled to make a significant impact. This allowed England to secure a victory with five wickets in hand.

"Kuldeep Yadav has to come back. I'm sorry to say, but Shardul Thakur has to go out," Manjrekar stated on 'Match Centre Live'. He emphasized the need for quality bowlers, even if it means adjusting the team's balance.

Shardul Thakur vs England at Headingley on June 24 (Image by George Wood/Getty Images)

Manjrekar added, "That is one change India will have to make... India need to take a hard call: even in English conditions, they must go with quality bowlers. If that means playing two spinners, so be it. Pick your best bowlers, irrespective of the conditions. You don't have the luxury of someone like Mohammed Shami available... so I'd go one seamer short and bring Kuldeep into the XI. He has to play."

Manjrekar highlighted the evolving English conditions, noting that drier summers are increasingly conducive to spin bowling. "Let's also acknowledge that English summers these days are largely dry... and that does open the door for spin. In a way, it's time to reintroduce the idea of India playing spin in England."

He further commented on the team's approach, stating, "There was a time when India would play three spinners no matter what — whether in New Zealand or England. If Kuldeep is in your squad, play him. Don't go with seamers just because you're playing in England. I'd drop one seamer and bring in Kuldeep Yadav."

Expectations from Jadeja

Manjrekar also shared his thoughts on Ravindra Jadeja: "It's not fair to be overly critical of younger players like Prasidh Krishna... But I am going to be critical of Ravindra Jadeja. This was a final-day pitch with rough patches for him to exploit... we have to expect more from someone of his experience."

He added, "I felt he didn't use the rough nearly enough... Somewhere, I felt Jadeja was disappointing. The seamers had no help from the surface — but Jadeja at least had something in the pitch working in his favour."