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Sanjay Manjrekar has recommended the inclusion of fast bowler Mukesh Kumar in India's lineup for the second Test against South Africa, set to commence on Wednesday, January 3, at Newlands in Cape Town. Mukesh, who debuted earlier this year against the West Indies in Port of Spain, Trinidad, claiming one wicket, is believed by Manjrekar to be better suited to the conditions in Cape Town.
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Expressing that Mukesh is 'more adapted to these conditions,' the seasoned commentator also advised against India fielding both Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna in the same playing XI for the upcoming second Test.
"From what we have seen in the first Test, I don't expect Shardul Thakur and Prasidh Krishna to play together in the second Test. There will definitely be one change. If Ravindra Jadeja is fit, it will strengthen our batting. So, if Mukesh Kumar is bowling well in the nets, he could be brought in. He is more suited to these conditions," Manjrekar was quoted as saying to ESPNcricinfo.
India find themselves trailing 0-1 in the two-match Test series following a defeat in the opening Test by an innings and 32 runs at SuperSport Park in Centurion.
The 58-year-old expressed his belief that both skipper Rohit Sharma and head coach Rahul Dravid would support Yashasvi Jaiswal despite his lacklustre performance in the first Test. The veteran commentator also expressed optimism for an improved pitch performance in Cape Town.
"Since it is a two-match series, you are sometimes forced to make some changes. However, I don't think India will make any major changes to their batting lineup. Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid would have seen how Yashasvi Jaiswal played in the first innings, and they would continue to back him.
"You cannot change things with the selection when it comes to batting. All you can do is hope that the pitch is a bit easier to bat on," Manjrekar added.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by India Today)
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