Sanjay Manjrekar, the former Indian cricketer, believes that in the upcoming Test series against South Africa if the Indian Star batsman Virat Kohli finds himself in a fired-up form, Virat Kohli has the potential to turn back the clock and play in the way he did back in 2018.
India has not yet clinched a Test series victory on South African soil, and their last attempt saw them winning the first Test but ultimately losing the series 2-1. Although Kohli contributed with a score of 79 in the first game in the previous tour, he has not consistently delivered performances in the longest format lately.
Virat Kohli has had to work harder for Test runs recently- Sanjay Manjrekar
In a conversation with Star Sports, Sanjay Manjrekar elaborated on how an angry and fired-up Virat Kohli could serve as an advantage for the Indian team in the upcoming Test series. He expressed,
“I see Kohli doing his own few things. He is going to get fired up. The last trip to South Africa, he did not get a big one and Kohli has had to work harder for Test runs recently. When Virat Kohli is all fired up and angry, that’s the sight I like. David Warner as well. When they get a little fired up, you see them batting better,”
It’s always the captain who creates the culture- Sanjay Manjrekar
Former Indian Batter Sanjay Manjrekar feels that the Indian team plays differently under Rohit Sharma and he doesn’t see any controversies happening this time around.
The highlight of India’s previous tour to South Africa was undoubtedly the intense moment when Virat Kohli and his teammates expressed their frustration towards the host broadcaster on the stump mic. This occurred when a Dean Elgar LBW decision was overturned by DRS, and the Indian team accused the broadcaster of favoring South Africa, displaying their displeasure with the decision.
Manjrekar when asked about the same, said:
“No, because we have a new leader in Rohit Sharma. But you are right, it brings back memories of players saying something that they have never done before, suggesting that the local broadcasters supported the South African team and all that,”
Manjrekar added,
“But that was a different temperamental team the last time around, under Rohit Sharma, they tend to play differently. It’s always the captain who creates the culture, so I don’t see that happening,”
The inaugural Test match between India and South Africa is scheduled to take place at Centurion on Boxing Day, December 26th.