Sanjay Manjrekar Blames IPL's 'Heavy Makeup' for India's T20I Woes
Former India cricketer says batting-friendly IPL pitches give a false sense of ability to Indian batters, leading to overseas failures.
India's recent T20I series defeats—0-4 in England and 0-2 in Ireland—have sparked criticism, with former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar pointing fingers at the Indian Premier League. He believes that the high-scoring, batting-friendly pitches in the IPL create an inflated perception of a batter's skill, masking their vulnerabilities on less forgiving surfaces abroad.
Manjrekar took to social media to urge selectors to look beyond IPL performances when picking national squads. He stated that the league puts a 'heavy makeup' on Indian batters, making them appear more capable than they actually are in overseas conditions. He warned that many upcoming T20I matches will be played on pitches that are not as batting-friendly, ending the 'home fun run'.
While Manjrekar's assessment has merit, it's worth noting that India had been dominant in T20Is until recently, with several IPL-bred players like Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson contributing to a long unbeaten series streak since August 2023. However, the losses to Ireland and England have exposed potential flaws, raising questions about the league's impact on the national team's adaptability.