NEW DELHI: Former Indian batsman Sanjay Manjrekar supported captain Rohit Sharma's choice to start Washington Sundar in place of spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the second Test match against New Zealand.
At Pune's Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) Stadium on Thursday, New Zealand captain Tom Latham chose to bat first after winning the toss in the second Test of the three-match series against India.
KL Rahul, spinner Kuldeep Yadav, and pacer Mohammed Siraj were not included in the playing XI.
After missing the opening Test because of stiff neck, Shubman Gill is back in the starting line-up. Washington Sundar replaced Kuldeep for his first Test appearance since March 2021, while Akash Deep replaced Siraj.
Taking to X, Manjrekar wrote supporting Akash Deep and Sundar's inclusion, " Common sense selection. In-form seamer in. When pitch is offering a lot, you don't need an artiste like Kuldeep, a tall, quick, finger spinner will do. #INDvNZ."
With a 0-1 series deficit, Team India needs to win this game.
A more formidable Australian opponent awaits the Rohit Sharma-led team, who must win this match to maintain their 12-year home dominance and increase their prospects of winning the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) finals hat-trick.
