Old Trafford Test: 'Day 1 Was Statement to Those Who Think Indian Line-Up Scores Only on Flat Tracks'
Manjrekar weighed in on Sai Sudharsan’s performance after his recall to the playing XI
Speaking on ‘Match Centre Live’ after the conclusion of Day 1 of the fourth Test, JioHotstar expert Sanjay Manjrekar reflected on India’s performance:
“You had two slices of the pie going India’s way — so definitely India’s day. For those skeptics who believe this young Indian batting line-up only gets runs on flat pitches or against weakened attacks, today was a statement. These were typical English conditions with a much-improved bowling attack — Stokes bowled more overs, Liam Dawson was an upgrade over Shoaib Bashir, and Archer added edge to the line-up. For India to finish at 264/4 under those conditions — that’s another solid batting display. Thankfully, Rishabh Pant managed to get some bat on the ball before retiring hurt. Hopefully, he’ll return to bat on Day 2.”
JioHotstar expert Jonathan Trott, shared his analysis on England’s strategy:
“I think England laid the groundwork, but the real test will be with the new ball on Day 2. If it doesn’t behave the way they hope, they might regret the decision to bowl first. Batting last at Old Trafford rarely gets easier. That said, we’ve had 16 days of fantastic cricket, and we’re still no closer to knowing who the better side is. That’s the beauty of this series.”
Manjrekar weighed in on Sai Sudharsan’s performance after his recall to the playing XI:
“He looked nervous to begin with, which was expected after being dropped post the first Test. That kind of omission dents your confidence. But as the innings progressed, his composure returned. He has an organised game, and even though he’s made his mark in T20s, the way he scores reflects the fundamentals you need in Tests. These were tough conditions to bat at No. 3 after being asked to bat first. He got some hard-earned runs, and more importantly, he seems like someone who won’t get carried away by one good outing — a grounded, academic type who prepares diligently. That’s the kind of player who builds a long Test career.”
On the KL Rahul–Yashasvi Jaiswal opening partnership:
“The morning session clearly went in India’s favour — thanks to these two. They carried their form with excellent defensive technique and strong minds. India have always struggled to find a consistent opening pair in overseas conditions, but they now seem to have one. A left-right combination that scores hundreds and looks dependable — that’s rare. You can expect consistency from this pair, and that’s significant.”
On Yashasvi Jaiswal’s rapid growth as a Test batter:
“In the past, you’d say some Indian batters flattered to deceive because of flat home pitches. But now, when a young batter puts together a strong Test run, you know Jaiswal has done it across tough conditions. South Africa was his first overseas tour — arguably the hardest. He’ll do better next time. What stands out is how late he plays the ball, how decisively he moves on the front and back foot, and his hunger for Test success.”
