Sanjay Manjrekar's recent remarks about Virat Kohli choosing the "easiest format" have stirred considerable debate within the cricket community. The former Indian cricketer and commentator has now elaborated on his statement, asserting that One Day Internationals (ODIs), particularly the top-order batting positions, are "too much in favour of the top three".

Manjrekar initially made the comment after Kohli's retirement from Test cricket in May 2025, following a challenging tour of Australia. Observing Joe Root and Steve Smith's success in the final Ashes Test, Manjrekar expressed his disappointment at Kohli's decision to step away from the longest format, especially after Kohli's struggles to maintain his form. He suggested that Kohli, with 53 ODI centuries to his name, had opted for the supposedly less demanding 50-over format.

In explaining his perspective, Manjrekar highlighted the dynamics of ODI cricket, especially for top-order batsmen. He pointed out that historically, many players who opened or batted at number three for India in ODIs were primarily middle-order batsmen in Test cricket. These players, according to Manjrekar, were "not very keen to open in Test cricket or bat in the top three" but were "almost desperate" to occupy those positions in ODIs. This difference in preference, he argues, is indicative of the relative ease of batting in the top order in ODIs.

Manjrekar further explained that ODI bowlers are often more focused on containing runs rather than aggressively seeking wickets, especially early in the innings. Unlike Test cricket, where a batsman faces the immediate challenge of "four slips and a gully," the ODI opener encounters a less attacking field, with bowlers primarily aiming to restrict scoring. This allows top-order batsmen to settle in and build their innings with less pressure.

Moreover, Manjrekar believes that the tough positions to bat in ODIs are lower down the order, such as number 4, 5, or 6, where players like Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, and MS Dhoni have excelled. He argues that true batting greatness is less likely to be found in the top three positions in ODIs because the format is heavily skewed in their favor. He said, "One day cricket is the last place I would look at to see my batting great of today because there's just far too much going for people who bat in the top three in one day cricket".

While Manjrekar's analysis doesn't explicitly mention Kohli by name, the implication is clear: success in ODIs, particularly at the top, is not necessarily a testament to a batsman's overall greatness or technical prowess. This perspective has not been without its detractors. Kohli's brother, Vikas Kohli, responded to Manjrekar's initial comments with a social media post criticizing those who, in his view, rely on Virat Kohli's name for relevance. This isn't the first time that Vikas Kohli has criticised Manjrekar's comments about Kohli.

Despite the criticism, Manjrekar has stood by his assessment, reiterating that ODI cricket is the "easiest format" for top-order batsmen. His comments have ignited a debate about the true measure of batting greatness and the varying challenges presented by different formats of the game.