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Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has raised questions regarding Rohit Sharma's tactical decisions during the second day of India's final Test against South Africa in Cape Town. Specifically, Manjrekar critiqued Sharma's bowling changes, particularly in the context of Mohammed Siraj's utilization in the game.
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On Day 2, South African batter Aiden Markram delivered a stunning performance, scoring a phenomenal century that significantly bolstered his team's position. Markram's aggressive batting, which yielded 106 runs off 103 balls, including 17 fours and two sixes, was a key factor in South Africa's total of 176 runs in their second innings.
Manjrekar, while commentating, suggested that Rohit Sharma should have employed Siraj for an early spell of bowling. However, Siraj was introduced into the bowling attack much later, eventually becoming the bowler to claim Markram's wicket after the latter had secured his century.
"Only the second over from Mohammed Siraj. So much has happened. Markram getting his hundred and the lead swelling to 60 and only the second over from Siraj. Mukesh Kumar has bowled, Prasidh Krishna has bowled his purchase. I think maybe it was a mistake to start with Mukesh Kumar. Maybe you should have had a short from Mohammed Siraj if you wanted from the end where Bumrah was bowling," said Manjrekar on air.
Markram's innings stood out, especially amidst the frequent loss of wickets on the South African side. Taking a proactive approach, he aggressively targeted the Indian bowlers, achieving his seventh Test century in a remarkable fashion. This innings provided a glimmer of hope for South Africa, which was grappling with the challenges posed by Jasprit Bumrah's earlier bowling success on the same day.
Markram's innings could have been cut short had KL Rahul not missed a catch off Bumrah's bowling, a mistake that proved costly for India. Capitalizing on this opportunity, Markram unleashed a fierce attack on Prasidh Krishna, scoring 19 runs in a single over, and reached his hundred in the 30th over.
With South Africa all out for 176, India was set a target of 79 runs to chase in order to level the two-match Test series. The day's play highlighted the significance of strategic field placements and bowling changes, with Manjrekar's observations underscoring the potential impact of such decisions on the game's outcome. The second day's events in Cape Town set the stage for an intriguing finish to the Test series, with India eyeing a comeback victory.
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