IND vs NZ: 'Rohit needs to move past T20 mindset', Sanjay Manjrekar criticizes India’s Test tactics

India has been on the receiving end of significant criticism after facing their first home Test series defeat in 12 years, losing the first two games of the three-match series against New Zealand. The Kiwis took an unassailable 2-0 lead, securing an eight-wicket win in Bengaluru, followed by a convincing 113-run victory in Pune.

Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar weighed in on the disappointing results, pointing out a “T20 mindset” in India’s strategy that he believes has negatively impacted their Test performances. 

India made some surprising decisions in both games, starting with the choice to bat first on a damp surface in Bengaluru. This decision proved costly, as India’s batting lineup struggled against New Zealand’s seamers, collapsing for just 46 – a new low for an Asian team in Tests. The second Test in Pune saw India favor a spin-friendly track, but this also backfired, with New Zealand’s Mitchell Santner using the conditions expertly to unsettle India’s batting order.

One particular move in the batting order raised eyebrows: India promoted Washington Sundar above Sarfaraz Khan in the fourth innings, trying to keep a left-hand-right-hand combination after Rishabh Pant’s dismissal, with Virat Kohli already at the crease. Manjrekar found this decision unusual and suggested that India's captain, Rohit Sharma, may be relying too much on T20-style matchups instead of focusing on players’ overall quality.

“The move to have Sarfaraz Khan bat down the order and sending Washington Sundar above him because he is a left-hander, those kind of things shouldn’t happen. It’s just bizarre,” Manjrekar said. 

“That’s one thing that Rohit Sharma needs to be careful of... the T20 thinking of matchups, left-hand-right-hand combinations. I think he should just go by the overall quality and ability of players.”

In the fourth innings of the second Test, India’s batting lineup crumbled again, this time in pursuit of a 359-run target, and they were bowled out for 245. Washington Sundar and Sarfaraz Khan scored only 21 and nine runs, respectively, falling short of the stability India needed to stay in the game.

New Zealand’s Santner, who previously had a modest record in Test bowling, took full advantage of the spin-friendly conditions in Pune, finishing with seven wickets in India’s first innings and six in the second. It was a career-best performance from the left-arm spinner, who left the Indian batters struggling against his skillful use of pace variations.