Sanjay Manjrekar has launched a scathing attack on the Indian team management, including captain Rohit Sharma and head coach Gautam Gambhir, for demoting KL Rahul in the batting order in the fourth Test against Australia at the MCG. With Rohit missing at No.6, the decision-makers brought him back to open the innings while sending Rahul to the No.3 position. Shubman Gill. However, everything backfired as Rohit managed just three runs in the first innings.

Manjrekar highlighted the visiting team’s mistake. “KL Rahul was the best opener from both sides. He batted with freedom and took his time before throwing punches. Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal added 201 runs for the opening partnership in the first Test, but India happily broke the pair, allowing an out-of-form top player to score runs.

“Just to give another chance to a big name, Rahul was sent to the No.3 position. For me it is a bad decision and with the sacking of Rohit the move has failed,” Sanjay Manjrekar told Mark Nicholas.

Rohit skipped the first Test due to the birth of his second child and made way for Rahul to open the innings. He scored 77 runs in the second innings in Perth with India winning the competition by 295 runs. Rohit decided to stay with the opening pair of KL and Jaiswal after returning for the second Test. It was an ordinary game for the two openers, but Rahul managed to justify the decision by scoring 84 in the first try of the third Test, which ended in a draw.

A similar batting order was expected for the Boxing Day Test but the management changed everything for Rohit.

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