Sanjay Manjrekar, Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal. (Photo Source: X(Twitter)
Sanjay Manjrekar lauded Rohit Sharma’s mindset after India annihilated Bangladesh’s bowling attack on Day 4 of the second Test at Green Park, Kanpur on Monday, September 30. After more than two days of cricket were lost due to rain and a wet outfield, India took the onus upon themselves to try and force a result from the Test match and gain valuable World Test Championship (WTC) points.
The Indian bowlers took less than 40 overs to take the remaining seven Bangladeshi wickets on Day 4. The tourists were bowled out for 233 after Mominul Haque slammed a century. Then, India came out all guns blazing as captain Rohit and Yashasvi Jaiswal put the Bangladeshi bowlers to the sword with their flamboyant batting. They added 55 runs off just 24 balls to set the tone for the hosts. Rohit played a swashbuckling cameo of 23 runs off 11 balls, hitting one four and three sixes. Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and KL Rahul played quickfire knocks as India declared at 285/9 in 34.4 overs.
Manjrekar was effusive in his praise for India’s batting effort, calling it a ‘champion’s approach’ – one that Sharma had imbibed in the Indian team.
“This is the legacy that Rohit Sharma will leave behind as captain. This is how he thinks. A strong team, which is one of the top two sides in the world, also showed the champion’s approach, realizing so much time has been lost. And he leads by example, exactly how he did in the 50-overs World Cup. So, this is what Rohit Sharma will leave behind as his contribution to Indian cricket,” Manjrekar said on ESPNcricinfo.
Sanjay Manjrekar applauds Rohit Sharma’s selfless approach
Manjrekar credited Rohit’s decision to put the best interests of the team above himself as the former India cricketer noted that the right-handed batter was willing to sacrifice his wicket in pursuit of quick runs.
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“You do something only for the team and play to win. He does not mind in the process, like in the 50-overs World Cup… He didn’t get a big hundred on anything like that. Even here, was quite happy to put his wicket on the line and suddenly we have a Test match that India could win. You have to applaud Rohit Sharma for that,” the former India batter further added.