Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes not a lot ought to be made out of Crew India shedding the house ODI sequence to New Zealand. Manjrekar claims the bilateral ODI sequence holds little significance within the present cricketing panorama, whereas stating that solely the World Cups ought to be given significance.
The Males in Blue gained the opening ODI towards the Kiwis earlier than shedding the subsequent video games to undergo a 1-2 setback. It was India’s first-ever residence bilateral ODI sequence loss to New Zealand of their wealthy historical past.
Speaking about the identical on his Instagram deal with, Manjrekar mentioned:
“Actually, in 50-overs cricket at this time, what actually issues are the World Cups and never even the Champions Trophy. As a result of when you try to bear in mind the final three Champions Trophy winners, you will battle to recollect these. However the 50-over World Cup, you will bear in mind every winner from the time the World Cup began. So, sure, if you wish to have your setbacks and poor performances, get it out of the system now, in time for the subsequent World Cup.”
He continued:
“You’ve got certified for the World Cup so these bilateral sequence are scheduled however they’re principally heat up video games and one should not learn an excessive amount of into it. In reality, the significance of those bilateral sequence has turn out to be such that two weeks later no cricket fan additionally remembers the results of what occurred in that bilateral ODI sequence. It is all in regards to the World Cups and type coming into the World Cup is de facto not a giant indicator of who’s going to win the World Cup.”
New Zealand fielded a largely depleted lineup within the ODI sequence, making the loss additional unfathomable for Crew India. The Males in Blue have now misplaced two out of their final three bilateral ODI sequence because the unbeaten title run within the 2025 Champions Trophy.
“India had a poor sequence towards New Zealand simply earlier than the World Cup 2003” – Sanjay Manjrekar
Sanjay Manjrekar highlighted the insignificance of a bilateral sequence, with the instance of India’s run within the 2003 ODI World Cup and Pakistan’s within the 1992 version. The Males in Blue got here into the 2003 occasion on the again of a dismal 2-5 hammering in New Zealand.
But, they rallied collectively to complete runners-up within the 2003 World Cup, shedding solely two video games within the event, each to Australia.
“It is all about enjoying properly in the course of the World Cup. Pakistan in 92, horrible earlier than the event, however went on to win the World Cup. India had a poor sequence towards New Zealand simply earlier than the World Cup 2003, however went to the ultimate and it was certainly one of India’s most spectacular performances in a World Cup. And there are various such examples,” mentioned Manjrekar (through the aforementioned supply).
The main focus now shifts to the shortest format, with India set to play New Zealand in 5 T20Is earlier than the all-important T20 World Cup subsequent month.
Edited by Venkatesh Ravichandran
