“Underutilised…”: Ex-India Star Factors Out Suryakumar Yadav’s ‘Apparent Mistake’ Towards South Africa

Former Indian cricket group batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes that all-rounder Axar Patel was ‘underutilised’ within the first two T20I encounters towards South Africa. Following India’s loss within the second sport of the four-match sequence on Sunday, Manjrekar stated that though India are enjoying Axar because the third spinner with Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi, the group administration has failed to make use of him correctly. While the monitor did present some assist to the spinners, Axar bowled only one over within the match. Manjrekar was not happy with the choice and known as it an “obvious mistake” by captain Suryakumar Yadav. 

“What are we doing with Axar Patel? Why are you playing him? Give a little clarity. Axar Patel, one over in Kingsmead, Durban and here also just one over. On a pitch where six of the seven wickets were picked up by spinners, he bowled just one over,” Chopra stated on his YouTube channel.

“In my opinion, he is being underutilised as a resource. We are saying that you are playing three spinners but you are unable to play them properly. I am not thinking much about the batting failure but not bowling Axar Patel was an obvious mistake on Surya’s part,” the previous India batter added.

Akaash Chopra additionally identified that Tristan Stubbs had a little bit of problem whereas enjoying towards spinners and a few extra overs for Axar may have achieved the trick for India within the match.

“That was a thing that stood out here as Tristan Stubbs, who played well, wasn’t able to pick length properly at the start. He was going back against full deliveries. He is a quality player and he showed in the end how and why, but Gerald Coetzee came as an out-of-syllabus question and I feel he will get one-and-a-half to two crores extra in the auction because he also hit sixes,” Chopra stated.

Spinner Varun Chakravarthy’s magical craftiness en route a maiden fifer remained a mere footnote as South Africa rode on the stubbornness of Tristan Stubbs to eke out a three-wicket win over India.

The four-match sequence is now stage at 1-1. But SA’s victory, which additionally halted India’s 11-match profitable streak, didn’t come with out its share of drama.

The first trace of a topsy-turvy evening got here when India limped to 124 for six on a fast, bouncy pitch after getting the invitation to bat first.

The Proteas have been at one stage 66 for six and 86 for seven, which ultimately transpired into 128 for seven, as Chakravarthy continued his worldwide resurgence with a five-wicket haul (5/17).

But SA discovered two valiant troopers in decided Stubbs (47 not out, 41b, 7×4) and aggressive Gerald Coetzee (19 not out, 9b, 2×4, 1×6) who added a treasured 42 runs for the eighth wicket alliance to hold their aspect previous the tape.

(With PTI inputs)