IPL 2021: Beyond me how captaincy is given to youngsters like Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson – Sanjay Manjrekar

Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar fails to understand why IPL captaincy is given to youngsters like Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson. Rajasthan Royals could only manage to win five matches out of the 14 they played in the league stage under Samson’s captaincy and the wicket-keeper could not get the best out of his team.

On the other hand, Rishabh Pant did a good job in the league stage as Delhi Capitals won 10 out of their 14 matches. However, Pant’s captaincy came under the scanner as he decided not to bowl Kagiso Rabada in the first qualifier against Chennai Super Kings and instead decided to back Avesh Khan and Tom Curran for the final two overs.

Meanwhile, KKR and CSK have made it to the IPL final and both teams are led by experienced captains in Eoin Morgan and MS Dhoni. The captain plays a key role in the success of the team, especially in the shortest format of the game.

In fact, both Morgan and Dhoni aren’t in the best of forms but their astute captaincy has helped their teams in reaching the summit clash.

Sanjay Manjrekar said while talking to ESPN Cricinfo, “The two teams that have reached the finals have been led by two seasoned captains – Morgan and Mahendra Singh Dhoni. I have come to this belief at the moment based on whatever I have seen in the IPL… I just wonder when you are looking at T20 specialist bowlers and batters and all-rounders, I think it’s time for us to also start looking for T20 specialist captains, you know, great T20 captains. It’s beyond me how T20 captaincy is given to a young Rishabh Pant, [he’s] still young cricket wise, young Shreyas Iyer or Sanju Samson.”

Manjrekar added that instead of appointing young players as captains, the franchise should look to back veteran players as a T20 game can turn on its head in a matter of deliveries.

“I just don’t understand the basis of that call because T20 captaincy is tough, it has a great impact… so I believe you’ve got to have brilliant T20 captains captaining sides and then even an ordinary side, I mean, look at CSK they have major weaknesses there but Dhoni has been able to get the best out of his playing XI. And those are the kind of captains IPL teams deserve, captains who are brilliant and just by their leadership and tactics will make a difference.”

KKR will play against CSK in IPL 2021 final on Friday.