Manjrekar: O'Brien no big threat

Against India, it will be a different ball game for the big-hitting Irishman, feels analyst, Sanjay Manjrekar.

By Our Correspondent

He may be dubbed as the giant-killer of this ICC Cricket World Cup, but Irishman Kevin O’Brien will not have it easy against India in Bengaluru on Sunday, says former Indian batsman Sanjay Manjrekar.

It was O’Brien’s heroic 113 off 63 balls that shocked England by three wickets, but that will have no effect on the Indians, feels Manjrekar.

“O'Brien will be a marked man for sure, but to expect him to perform every time and come up with the kind of innings he played against England is asking a bit too much. The Indian bowlers, especially the spinners, have got enough skill to tackle someone like O'Brien. The bowlers would have studied him carefully by now. He will be singled out for special treatment," said Manjrekar.

India have played Ireland just once in an ODI, thrashing them by nine wickets at Belfast on June 23, 2007. Manjrekar believes Team India will be the overwhelming favourites once again.

"If you apply cricketing logic then India should be able to beat Ireland comfortably. Ireland played superbly against England but to expect them to keep playing like that is illogical. If you think they can repeat their performance and beat a team like India then one will have to take them differently. They are still very much an inexperienced team that is short on ability," Manjrekar explained.

Much talk has gone into India's team composition after their tied match against England. Manjrekar believes spin is the answer to India's bowling woes.

"The team composition is decided on the basis of the pitch. On a turning track, a Piyush Chawla may be picked ahead of a third seamer. Dhoni will also prefer a spinner ahead of a Nehra or Sreesanth,” said Manjrekar.

Going by the trend in this World Cup, no score is safe enough. England nearly chased down 339 against India then Ireland stunned England by scoring 329. Manjrekar feels Indian batsmen should take more responsibility on a flat pitch.

"I think that one very important lesson India learn't from the last game is that the batsmen will have to take even more responsibility. The team has to realize that they are a little bit short on the bowling front and any big score is not enough on perfect batting pitches. So, the batsmen will have to take more responsibility from the very first ball. All the seven or eight batsmen should be looking to attack more" said Manjrekar.