Cricketer turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar came up with his bunch of players who could play in India’s playing XI against Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup 2023. The Indian team will be locking horns with Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, in Kandy, Sri Lanka. Since the high-octane clash is just 10 days away, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar named his playing XI that could make the cut against Pakistan.
The former batter opted for three mainstream pacers Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami while Hardik Pandya would be his fourth bowling option. Add to that, senior batter KL Rahul also got a spot in Manjrekar’s India XI. Manjrekar picked skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill as openers for the Men in Blue.
“My three seamers would be Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami. Hardik Pandya would be my fourth seamer. My spinners would be (Ravindra) Jadeja and Kuldeep (Yadav). My opener would be Shubman Gill and Rohit Sharma. No. 3 batter would be Virat Kohli. KL Rahul would play because he is the keeper,” Manjrekar told ESPNcricinfo.
Talking about the middle order, he stated that either Shreyas Iyer or Tilak Varma could get a chance in his line-up for the high-profile game against Pakistan.
“Either Shreyas Iyer or Tilak Varma could play [in the middle-order]. I am saying this because in India’s first-choice side XI, the first seven (six) batters, including Hardik Pandya, are all right-handers. Somewhere, India will have to fit in a left-hander in Tilak Varma. This is a problem India has,” Manjrekar added.
Notably, young batter Tilak Varma got his maiden India call after his brilliant outing in the 2023 edition of the IPL. The young left-hander took part in seven T20Is and collected 174 runs at an average of 34.80.
Sanjay Manjrekar’s India XI: Rohit Sharma (captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer/ Tilak Varma, KL Rahul (wk), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj.