The biggest worry for England going into the next 2 Tests is their bowling attack: Sanjay Manjrekar

India have managed to take a 2-1 lead in the five-match Test series against England after unexpectedly losing the first match in Hyderabad. On Sunday, February 18, Rohit Sharma’s men defeated England by a record-shattering 434 runs in Rajkot.

During the match, the youngsters in the Indian batting line-up made important contributions that have earned rich praise from the cricket fraternity. In the first innings, debutants Sarfaraz Khan (62) and Dhruv Jurel (46) batted well and helped their team post a big total of 445 runs. The second innings saw Shubman Gill (91) and Sarfaraz (68*) scoring fluent fifties while Yashasvi Jaiswal (214*) notched up his second double-century in the series.

Yashasvi’s superlative knock was studded with 14 fours and 12 sixes. In a James Anderson over, the southpaw smashed a hat-trick of sixes to mesmerise the cricket world. Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar pointed out how the inexperienced Indian batters “massacred” the English bowling attack. According to the 58-year-old, England’s bowling department is a major worry for them heading into the last two Tests.

“I respect England’s approach and they are doing the world of Test cricket a great good, not just the team. But the worry for them going into the next 2 Tests is the bowling attack. The big takeaway on Day 4 was how their bowling was massacred by young Indian batters with hardly any Test experience,” Manjrekar said while speaking to ESPNcricinfo.

Also Read: “Every innings counts for me and for my team”: Yashasvi Jaiswal

The biggest problem England will face will be with their inexperienced spinners: Sanjay Manjrekar

The cricketer-turned-commentator acknowledged the performances of the young England spinners but stated that without much first-class experience, they are going to find it difficult to run through the Indian batting line-up.

“The biggest problem England will face will be with their inexperienced spinners, who have done phenomenally well. But it’s just too much of a burden to carry for these young shoulders with hardly any first-class experience. I don’t see them suddenly getting India 150 all-out and can’t see India giving them rank turners that other opposition teams have got,” Manjrekar added.

Manjrekar opined that England batters, who have done reasonably well barring the second innings in Rajkot where they were blown away for 122, will continue to pose a strong challenge but the bowling department might not be able to back them up.

“England batting will continue to be dangerous but their bowling will keep allowing India to come back in the game. That’s where India looks a little more secure,” said Manjrekar.

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