Xtra Time Web Desk: Team India’s ruthless defeat in the ODI series against South Africa on Sunday was extremely unimpressive. Sanjay Manjrekar was highly disappointed with India’s performance and slammed Team India’s senior player R Ashwin. The former Indian batter had often spoke against R Ashwin’s performance in SENA countries (South Africa, England, New Zealand, Australia) following India’s loss in South Africa tour, he shared his thoughts on Aswin.
R Ashwin failed to make any impact in the first two games of series at Paarl after bouncing back of whopping five years, in the 50 over side. In the first match, he registered figures of 1/53 and scored 7 runs with the bat. In the next match, he returned wicketless and gave away 68 runs in his spell. With the bat, he scored an unbeaten 25. Skipper KL Rahul then dropped him for the final game as he made four changes with hopes of avoiding a whitewash.
Manjrekar said, “Ashwin strangely came back into India’s ODI plans for some reason. India paid a price for that. He played the two crucial games, did nothing much. (Yuzvendra) Chahal also under the scanner. Prasidh Krishna needs to be backed a bit more. Also, in 50-overs, Mohammed Shami can be a good option.
“Bowling wise, Bhuvneshwar Kumar had given signs even before this series that he is finding it difficult to get back to his best. I guess that issue is closed after seeing his performance in the series. And Deepak Chahar, the one ball to get Janneman Malan, should tell selectors that he is a better option,” he elaborated.
After the series loss and defeat against South Africa in the ODI series Manjrekar termed it as, “a bad loss.”
“The way the match ended sums up the whole trip for India. It has to be one of the poorest Indian tours to South Africa. That’s how it was destined to be. It just wasn’t India’s time in South Africa. It is a bad loss,” he concluded.