Sanjay Manjrekar credited Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj for India’s overseas success in Test cricket. Pacers Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj propelled Virat Kohli-led Team India to a comfortable win over South Africa in the 1st Test of the three-match series at Centurion’s SuperSport Park.
Drawing a parallel between the troika of India’s pace battery and the iconic Pakistani pace attack of the late ’90s comprising of Wasim Akram, Shoaib Akhtar, and Waqar Younis, former Indian cricketer turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar credited the Indian speed merchants for India’s overseas success in the longest and oldest format of the game.
Sanjay Manjrekar: India’s Overseas Success Comes For Having The Luxury Of 3 World Class Pacers In Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, And Mohammed Siraj
Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar spoke at length about pacers making a massive impact in the international arena for India, especially during the away tours. Indian pacers Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, and Mohammed Siraj shared 16 wickets in the first Test of the three-match series between India and hosts South Africa.
Team India will play the series decider on Monday at Johannesburg. Speaking ahead of the 2nd Test match between Virat Kohli’s India and the Proteas, Sanjay Manjrekar lauded the world-class bowling attack of the Asian giants.
“One thing that has changed in recent 5-6 years for the Indian team, which has been a rare instance for India. India’s overseas success comes because India now has the luxury of having three world-class seam bowlers. It has had a huge impact,” Manjrekar said.
Indian speed merchant Mohammed Shami bagged a match-changing five-wicket haul for India in South Africa’s 1st innings at Centurion. The duo of Jasprit Bumrah (2 scalps) and Mohammed Siraj (1 scalp) shared three wickets as Proteas were bundled out for 197 in their 1st innings.
India became only the third visiting Test team after England (2000) and Australia (2014) to win a Test match in Centurion, where South Africa has 21 victories in 28 matches in the longer format of the game. Indian pacers continued to shine at Centurian, which led to an emphatic 113-run win in the first Test against South Africa.
Sanjay Manjrekar: Good Signs For Indian Cricket For Having 3 World Class Seamers Like Pakistan In The ’90s
Guiding India to an impressive 113-run win over the Proteas, Jasprit Bumrah (3 wickets), Mohammed Shami (3 wickets), and Mohammed Siraj (2 wickets) picked up crucial wickets in the 2nd innings too to make sure the visitors take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
“If you look at the history of Test cricket, earlier when Pakistan used to win outside their country, they too had 3 world-class seamers. And now India finds itself in the same condition. These are good signs for Indian cricket,” Manjrekar added.
The pace trio is expected to retain their places for the upcoming 2nd Test match at Johannesburg. Bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur had also complimented India’s pace attack in the series opener at Centurion by picking 2 scalps in the first innings. India has never lost a Test match at Johannesburg’s Wanderers Stadium.
India’s skipper Virat Kohli was however ruled out of the 2nd Test for back spasms and Hanuma Vihari replaced him. KL Rahul, stand-in vice-captain is leading India for the 1st time. On the other hand, Dean Elgar’s South Africa has made two changes; bringing in Kyle Verryenne and Duanne Olivier for Quinton de Kock and Wianne Mulder, respectively. India is 14 for no loss in the 2nd Test batting first.