Sanjay Manjrekar backs Mukesh Kumar to play 2nd Test against South Africa

Listen to Story Sanjay Manjrekar said that fast bowler Mukesh Kumar should play India’s second Test match against South Africa, starting Wednesday, January 3 at the Newlands in Cape Town. Mukesh made his Test debut earlier this year against the West Indies at the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad, where he picked up one wicket.

Manjrekar said that Mukesh is ‘more suited to these conditions’ in Cape Town. The veteran also said that India should not field both Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna in the same playing XI for the second Test. "From what we have seen in the first Test, I don't expect Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna to play together in the second Test.

There will definitely be one change. If Ravindra Jadeja is fit, it will strengthen our batting. So, if Mukesh Kumar is bowling well in the nets, he could be brought in. He is more suited to these conditions," Manjrekar was quoted as saying to ESPNcricinfo. India are 0 1 down in the two match Test series after losing the opening Test at the SuperSport Park in Centurion.

Manjrekar also reckoned that skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid would back Yashasvi Jaiswal despite failing in the first Test. The veteran also hoped for the pitch to behave better in Cape Town. "Since it is a two match series, you are sometimes forced to make some changes. However, I don't think India will make any major changes to their batting lineup.

Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid would have seen how Yashasvi Jaiswal played in the first innings, and they would continue to back him. “You cannot change things with the selection when it comes to batting. All you can do is hope that the pitch is a bit easier to bat on," Manjrekar added..