NEW DELHI: Former cricketer and cricket commentator Sanjay Manjrekar emphasizes that India should focus on finding the right balance in their playing XI based on the conditions to secure victories.
During the group stage in the United States, India opted for three frontline pacers and two spinners, but altered their combination in the Super 8 stage against Afghanistan by dropping Mohammed Siraj for Kuldeep Yadav to add an extra spinner.
Manjrekar evaluated India's options, highlighting the presence of a diverse range of players. According to him, it's crucial for the team to choose the best combination suited to the conditions to increase their chances of winning.
"I think it's always nice to have many options, and that's just, I think is for the foremost for any team management when there are exciting options to choose from. So I don't think that is such an issue, but they must remain true to what would be the best playing 11 to get India to win in certain conditions," Manjrekar was quoted as saying by ANI on Disney+ Hotstar.
In the match against Afghanistan, Hardik Pandya played as the third pacer, with Shivam Dube offering an additional seam option. This shift indicated India's adaptive strategy in seeking the right balance based on the playing surface.
Manjrekar's insights underscore the importance of flexibility and adaptability in team selection to suit varying conditions, which he believes will be key to India's success.
