Sanjay Manjrekar Highlights Key Opening Change for India's T20 Success

In a recent analysis, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar praised India's strategic shift to a right-left opening pair of Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson during the T20 World Cup. This change proved vital in their match against Zimbabwe, where India posted a record score of 256/4. Manjrekar also highlighted the benefits of batting Tilak Varma lower in the order and discussed the upcoming crucial clash against the West Indies, which will determine the final knockout stage spot. Discover more about India's tactics and player performances in this exciting tournament.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 27, 2026, 13:08 IST

Manjrekar Praises Strategic Opening Pairing

Sanjay Manjrekar, a former Indian cricketer, emphasized the significance of India's right-left opening duo, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, in their recent match against Zimbabwe during the T20 World Cup in Chennai. He believes this adjustment played a crucial role in India's performance.

Manjrekar pointed out that had India opted for two left-handed openers, Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma, Zimbabwe's captain Sikandar Raza would have likely introduced himself as an off-spinner during the power-play, which could have posed challenges for the Indian batting lineup.

Challenges Faced by Indian Openers

Historically, Indian openers have struggled against off-spinners during the power-play in this T20 World Cup, with four out of six matches seeing them falter against this bowling style.

Manjrekar remarked, "India's strategy was commendable from the outset with the left-right combination at the top. This was a vital change that significantly benefited India. If there had been two left-handers, Raza would have exploited the conditions with his off-spin, which could have been problematic."

Countering Zimbabwe's Spin Attack

The presence of Sanju Samson in the lineup prevented Raza from bowling early, delaying the introduction of off-spinners. Although India's run rate dipped slightly when spinners were brought in, the right-left combination proved to be an effective strategy.

Manjrekar added, "The left-right combination at the top was crucial for India and worked exceptionally well."

India Achieves Record Score

India has finally found its optimal batting order in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup, achieving the highest score of the tournament so far at 256/4 against Zimbabwe. The opening pair of Sharma (55) and Samson (24) set the tone, with contributions from Ishan Kishan (38), Suryakumar Yadav (33), Hardik Pandya (50*), and Tilak Varma (44*).

Tilak Varma's New Role

Manjrekar also supported the decision to bat Tilak Varma lower in the order, suggesting that he performs better under less pressure. Batting at No. 6, Varma scored 44 runs off just 16 balls, showcasing his explosive batting style.

He stated, "Moving Tilak Varma down the order was a smart decision. He seems to thrive with less pressure, which is crucial for upcoming matches. This also allowed Hardik Pandya to bat higher up the order."

Upcoming Clash with West Indies

India's comprehensive victory over Zimbabwe has set the stage for a critical match against the West Indies at Eden Gardens. This encounter will determine which team secures the final spot in the knockout stages. Zimbabwe's defeat, following their earlier loss to the West Indies, has eliminated them from the tournament, while South Africa has already qualified for the semifinals.