IND vs NZ 3rd Test: The Indian batters once again put up a disappointing display in the series against New Zealand as team India suffered two mini collapses in the first innings of the third Test at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai.  

India’s batting underperformed but in a bizarre call inform batter Sarfaraz Khan was held back and sent at no.8 spot to keep the left-right combination intact. This hasn’t gone down well with former Indian batter and he has slammed Gautam Gambhir and his coaching staff for making the bizarre call. 

Ex Indian batter slams Gautam Gambhir and management 

Having limited New Zealand to a score of 235 runs, Indian batters started off steady but lost the plot and only managed to limp to a total of 263 thanks to Shubman Gill’s 90 and Rishabh Pant ‘s 60. 

However, in a bizarre call, Sarfaraz Khan was sent in to bat way down the pecking order at no.8 and he failed to perform, getting out on a four ball duck. The move didn’t bode well with former Indian batter and pundit Sanjay Manjrekar as he took to social media to share his discontent with Gautam Gambhir and the team management. 

Manjrekar pointed out that he didn’t see any sense in demoting a batter who has scored 150 in the first Test of the series and said it was a poor call. 

“A guy gets 150 in the Bangalore Test, a good player of spin, pushed back in the order to keep left & right combination?? Makes no sense. Sarfraz now walking in at no 8! Poor call by India,” wrote Sanjay Manjrekar on X. 

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Manjrekar further criticised Indian batters for not playing spin the right way and urged the batting coach to get them to practice playing spin in the nets. 

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Despite a mediocre batting display, India took a 27 run lead and bowlers have started well as they are keeping the NZ innings in check.