India have been criticised for demoting Sarfaraz Khan to No.8 in favour of maintaining a left-right combination during the India-New Zealand Mumbai Test.
With Mohammed Siraj employed as a nightwatchman on the evening of day one, the India batting lineup was bound for a reshuffle. However, Sarfaraz Khan had to make way for Ravindra Jadeja, eventually coming out to bat at No.8 – potentially to maintain a left-right combination.
Former India batter and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar was vocal in his criticism of India's approach, questioning how the "in form" Sarfaraz had to be pushed down the order.
"A guy in form, has 3 fifties in his first 3 Tests, 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," Manjrekar wrote on X
