"If India can't win on rank turners, what next?" - Sanjay Manjrekar on the Men in Blue's dismal show in 2nd IND vs NZ 2024 Test

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar opined that preparing a turning track for the ongoing second Test between India and New Zealand in Pune backfired for Rohit Sharma and Co. He suggested that it did more damage to the hosts than to the Black Caps.

In response to New Zealand's first innings total of 259, the Men in Blue were bundled out for just 156 on Day 2. Not a single batter was able to cross the 40-run mark, with Ravindra Jadeja's 38-run knock being the highest individual score.

Pointing out that the home series against New Zealand hasn't panned as per Team India's expectations, the cricketer-turned-commentator told ESPNcricinfo:

"You wonder now if India can't win on rank turners, what next? So, it's turned out to be a series like that which has been unexpected. I said acid test for New Zealand if the pitch is a turning one, turns out it more is a test for Indian batters than anything else."

Emphasizing that India's poor batting performance against New Zealand's spin attack will worry the team management, Manjrekar added:

"It was a performance that will worry the team management because India should have risen to the occasion. Because you're not talking of three experienced spinning stalwarts from the opposition."

Meanwhile, New Zealand finished 198/5 at stumps on Day 2. They are in the driver's seat, having claimed a massive 301-run lead already.

---

"The accuracy is not quite there" - Sanjay Manjrekar on Ravindra Jadeja's bowling

Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja has been a force to reckon with on the Indian pitches. However, the talismanic all-rounder has failed to make a significant impact with the ball in the ongoing series.

In the aforementioned source, Sanjay Manjrekar stated that Jadeja's accuracy has been missing of late. Assessing the seasoned campaigner's bowling performances, Manjrekar remarked:

"Jadeja has become a bit of a talking point. Jadeja has been great strength over the years, and at some stage, those performances have to dip because how long can you sustain those kinds of performances. Very noticeable is the fact that he's not as accurate as he used to be where he used to just bowl on middle stump and a ball would come back in or leave the right-hander."

"He was a nightmare, whether it was a left-hander or a right-hander. The accuracy is not quite there. I wonder whether average speed has changed and hence he's not getting as much reaction from the pitch."

Jadeja bagged three scalps across two innings in the Test series opener against New Zealand in Bengaluru. He hasn't picked up a wicket so far in the ongoing Pune Test.