'We Know Of A Former Batter Who…': Sanjay Manjrekar Takes Sly Dig At Virat Kohli – News18

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar lauded how KL Rahul didn’t touch a single delivery pitched outside off during his innings on Day 1 of the Headingley Test against England, while adding that a ‘former batter’ would have gone behind those and put himself into trouble.
Manjrekar lauded Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal for their capability to not poke at deliveries bowled outside the off stump.
Speaking of the Headingley Test, Rahul and Jaiswal showed no signs of nerves as the pair showed a clear game plan against the England pacers. The duo saw off the new ball for the first hour.
“Deliveries outside the off stump, full, have been left alone. Jaiswal has done that. Anything that has been pitched right up into the stumps, he has driven. Anything wide, he has looked to score on,” Manjrekar said while commentating.
“KL Rahul hasn’t touched one delivery or attempted to play one single delivery that’s been full, just outside off. Anything wide, he has gone with a covered drive,” Manjrekar added.
The former Indian cricketer said that the team’s stability within the first hour was entirely owed to Rahul and Jaiswal.
“So a lot of what you’re seeing is being created by these two batters and my hat’s off to them. We know of a former batter who would have gone after that delivery and got himself into trouble,” Manjrekar said.
Unfortunately, Rahul’s dismissal came when he chased a ball bowled well outside off as his innings was cut short on 42.
Rahul (42) and Jaiswal (42 not out) made the England attack look pedestrian until the former and debutant B Sai Sudharsan (0) got out in the final moments of the first session.
England skipper Ben Stokes’ decision to bowl first might have stemmed from the transformed nature of the Headingley pitch, which has become a batter’s ally in the last 10 years.
There was a hint of movement and swing for the pacers, but the Indian openers were well up to the task on a sunny morning. The weather is currently mostly cloudy in Leeds, but the forecast doesn’t seem too bad for Day 1.

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