'Doesn't make sense to keep investing in him' - Sanjay Manjrekar's message to Indian team management ahead of Rajkot Test

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar is disappointed with KS Bharat's performance in the first two Tests between India and England. The wicket-keeper batter has not contributed much with his bat since his debut and continued his poor form in the ongoing home series. Manjrekar believes that there is no point in investing in the 30-year-old cricketer, sending an important message to the Indian team management. 

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While Bharat's wicketkeeping received a lot of praise, he failed to impress with the bat in both matches. The right-hander, who came into the series on the back of a century for India A against England, managed just 92 runs in four innings. Notably, it was a flop show from his bat in both innings in the Vishakapatnam Test, registering scores of 17 and 6. 

Manjrekar urged the Indian selectors to look beyond Bharat and hire someone who can contribute with the bat as well. The former middle-order batter feels that the management should try others before Rishabh Pant returns from injury. 

"It's a lot like he's playing his first series. He's played before, he played all four Test matches against Australia and Rishabh Pant is due to come any time soon. So, I am not sure whether it is worthwhile and makes sense to keep investing in KS Bharat. He's also not 20 years old and India had moved on from KS Bharat and gone to Ishan Kishan," Manjrekar told ESPNCricinfo. 

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"So he's done just enough to maybe just keep his place in the side. This team management believes in being fair to every individual, but I would personally look at another option before Rishabh Pant comes in and takes his place," he added. 

Look at Rishabh Pant in the last 3-4 years: Manjrekar shows no mercy in criticising Bharat 

Bharat has played 7 Tests so far and has not scored a single fifty. In the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the Andhra Pradesh cricketer managed just 101 runs in four matches against Australia. His performance in the World Test Championship (WTC) final was also below par.

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Notably, the management had brought Ishan Kishan as the second wicket-keeper for the South Africa Test series. However, the southpaw pulled out of the series citing mental fatigue, paving the way for Bharath to be selected as his replacement. As KL Rahul did not perform wicket-keeping duties in the series against England, Bharat was given that responsibility. 

"India will start looking at KS Bharat whether his keeping is that good we can afford to have somebody who is not contributing as much with the bat. India of late and the world over, if you see is going for keepers who are decent good keepers but contribute with the bat. I mean look at Rishabh Pant in the last 3-4 years, his contribution with the bat. So, those are things that India will have to look at," Manjrekar concluded.