Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar feels the upcoming five-match T20I series against England is going to be significant for under-fire head coach Gautam Gambhir. The chief coach is under scrutiny for the team’s mundane performance in the recent past and it is crucial for Gambhir to turn the tables.
India suffered a 1-3 series loss against Australia in the Border-Gavaskar trophy. Earlier, India suffered a 0-3 series loss against New Zealand despite playing in its own conditions. Ergo, India could not qualify for the ICC Test Championship final for the third consecutive time.
Furthermore, India suffered an ODI series loss against Sri Lanka after 27 years.
Sanjay Manjrekar said on ESPN Cricinfo, “Let’s hope that he [Gautam Gambhir] can feel a little settled and the pressure is off him. He’ll have a new bunch of young players which is likely an easier challenge for him than the one that he had in Australia. So, winning these matches are important.”
“It’ll just get him to feel part of that team but what will happen in the Champions Trophy and the England tour could spoil all the good work that he could’ve done before that. So, those are the two tournaments,” he added.
Meanwhile, India won the T20I series against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka by 3-0 each under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav.
Manjrekar reckons India will have their work cut out against a potent English team as the visitors have a formidable batting unit.
“When you start reading from top to bottom, [England] looks a very good side. Their seam bowling is covered, there’s a bit of quality there. They’ve got a spinner in Adil Rashid, who’s a game-changer as a wrist spinner, and a lot of bowling options. People like Liam Livingstone, [is] primarily there for batting but can turn in as off-spinner and leg-spinners and bowl three overs like India found out in the semis of the T20 World Cup in Australia.”
“On paper, England looks like a strong side and that’s why I think this will be a good test of a very good T20 Indian side as well because they are taking on an opposition that looks really strong,” he added.
India and England will take on each other in the first T20I at Eden Gardens, Kolkata on Wednesday.
