In a straightforward analysis of India’s recent defeat to South Africa at Centurion, cricket expert Sanjay Manjrekar highlighted the absence of seasoned pacer Mohammed Shami as a key factor in the Boxing Day Test loss. India suffered a significant setback, losing by an innings and 32 runs, marking their largest-ever Test defeat on South African soil. The Proteas asserted dominance, amassing a formidable total of 408 runs in the first innings.
Sanjay Manjrekar on Mohd. Shami’s Absense.
Manjrekar emphasized that Shami’s presence would have fortified India’s bowling unit, particularly in the seam-friendly conditions observed at Centurion. He explained, “India missed Mohammed Shami because you’re talking about extracting the most from the pitch by hitting the pitch, not relying on movement in the air. Shami excels in generating movement on Indian pitches, where there’s hardly any. So, he would have been a handful,” during an interview with ESPNcricinfo.
The former cricketer-turned-commentator pointed out that Shami’s absence underscored the need for adaptability in the bowling strategy on South African pitches. Manjrekar conveyed, “The main takeaway, aside from scoring more runs, is that you have to bowl differently, and the Indian seamers, the quality bowlers we have, have realized that now.”
Unfortunately, Shami, India’s standout bowler this year, missed the ongoing two-match Test series against South Africa due to an ankle injury. As the series unfolds, all eyes are on how India’s bowlers will navigate the challenges presented by South African conditions.
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