Manjrekar Warns KL Against Being 'One-Hundred Wonder', Sees 'Pant Carrying Form'
Sanjay Manjrekar urged KL Rahul to step up as a senior batter in India's Test team and praised Rishabh Pant's consistency and mental strength.
Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar feels it is time for KL Rahul to step up and realise his full potential, and can't afford to be a one-century wonder.
After the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, Rahul has become the most senior batter in India's Test team. With the spotlight on him, Rahul, one of the few experienced players in a young batting lineup, is expected to perform, provide stability, and guide emerging talents. Meanwhile, Rishabh Pant has cemented his role in India's batting lineup, with his twin centuries in the Leeds Test showcasing his match-winning abilities.
Manjrekar praised Pant's consistency in the red-ball format, highlighting his achievement of becoming the second wicketkeeper in cricket history, after Andy Flower, to score twin centuries in a Test. Manjrekar expressed his belief that Pant enjoys batting in Test cricket. He highlighted the mental strength required to score two hundreds in a Test match, emphasising that this is a hallmark of an exceptional player.
'I think he will because it seems like he enjoys batting in Test cricket. Any batter who gets two hundreds in a Test match, it takes a lot out of you mentally, not so much physically, getting a hundred in the first innings, and 48 hours later, you have the same kind of reserve to get another hundred. So that is a hallmark of an exceptional player," Manjrekar was quoted as saying on Star Sports.
Manjrekar stressed the need for KL Rahul to perform more consistently, especially during this transitional phase for Team India. He pointed out that while Rahul has the talent, he must avoid being the kind of player who scores just one exceptional century in a five-match series.
Why Manjrekar Is Comparing Rahul To Pant?
Comparing Rahul's situation to Pant's recent performances, Manjrekar emphasised that India needs Rahul to step up regularly and take on more responsibility as one of the senior batters. Indian cricket desperately needs him to avoid being a one-century wonder or a one-Test-match performer.
' Rishabh Pant enjoys Test matches. He has not got enough runs. So he is hungry. I see Pant carrying his form, but there is another senior batter in the team, who now has got no choice but to carry his form right through the series. Indian cricket needs him badly, and KL Rahul cannot be a one-hundred wonder or a one-Test-match performer," Manjrekar added.
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