Sanjay Manjrekar has observed Sachin Tendulkar from close quarters in both the Mumbai and Indian teams. He has also been the Little Master’s critic; his comments a few years ago suspecting Tendulkar’s ability against top class bowling had raked up quite a storm.
“I had said then that he was more cautious against top bowlers and afraid to get out. He was not at his peak and I stick by what I had said. But I see him as more purposeful, more relaxed now,” Manjrekar said on Thursday.
“The way he played in the last match (tri-series final against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Monday) was superb, especially the way he hit through the covers both on the front foot and the back foot,” he added.
Manjrekar gave a thumbs up to Tendulkar, but questioned Rahul Dravid’s presence in the one-day team.
“I don’t think the selectors have long-term plans for Dravid. The team did badly against the short pitched stuff and got knocked out of the Twenty20 World Championship early, so they brought him in,” Manjrekar said about Dravid, who opened the batting with Tendulkar in the final of the tri-series in Sri Lanka this week.
“Not much thought has gone into the selection and whether he will figure in the scheme of things after this year. Someone like Gary Kirsten should be grooming other players for the No.3 slot,” added Manjrekar.
Former Pakistan skipper Wasim Akram felt Dravid was being selected to protect other batsmen.
“When you pick a team, you should be thinking about whether a player is expected to play in the 2011 World Cup. If Dravid is sent up the order and someone like Suresh Raina is sent in at No.5 or 6, you are not backing the youngster to do well, to improve against good and fast bowling” said Akram.
Akram and Manjrekar were sharing the dais with commentator Harsha Bhogle, the ICC general manager (commercial) Campbell Johnson, and an ESPN official at a function to announce the channel’s broadcasting plans for the Champions Trophy.
About India’s prospects, the two agreed that the pace attack was a point of concern.
“I think the bowling attack is weak because the seamers lack experience,” said Manjrekar.
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