During the first Test match between India and England at Headingley, Leeds, on June 20, 2025, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar ignited a debate with a seemingly subtle jab at Virat Kohli during his commentary. Manjrekar's remarks came while he was complimenting the opening batsmen, KL Rahul and Yashasvi Jaiswal, for their disciplined approach to leaving deliveries outside the off-stump.
As the two openers forged a strong partnership, Manjrekar praised their restraint, particularly Rahul's judgment in leaving deliveries outside the off-stump. Without explicitly mentioning Kohli's name, Manjrekar alluded to a "former batter" who, in similar situations, "would have gone after that delivery and gotten himself into trouble." This remark quickly caught the attention of listeners and sparked discussions across social media platforms.
The context of Manjrekar's comment became clearer when considering Kohli's past struggles, specifically his tendency to chase deliveries wide outside the off-stump, which led to his dismissal on numerous occasions. This vulnerability was particularly evident during India's tour of Australia earlier in the year, where Kohli fell into the trap of edging balls in the fourth and fifth stump lines.
While Manjrekar refrained from directly naming Kohli, the reference was hard to ignore, especially given Kohli's recent retirement from Test cricket and his well-documented struggles with deliveries in that corridor of uncertainty. Social media was abuzz with reactions, with many fans interpreting Manjrekar's words as an unnecessary dig at the former India captain. Some felt the comment was unwarranted.
Manjrekar's commentary went thus: "Deliveries outside the off stump, full, have been left alone. Jaiswal has done that. Anything that has been pitched right up into the stumps, he has driven. Anything that has been wide, he has looked to score on. KL Rahul has not touched one delivery or attempted to play one single delivery that's been full, just outside off. Anything that has been wide, he has gone with a covered drive. So a lot of what you're seeing is being created by these two batters, and my hat's off to them. We know of a former batter who would have gone after that delivery and got himself into trouble. But not these two".
Interestingly, shortly after Manjrekar's comment, Rahul himself was dismissed in a similar fashion, edging a wide delivery to the slips. This turn of events added another layer to the discussion, with some pointing out the irony of Rahul's dismissal following Manjrekar's remarks.
Despite the criticism, some observers defended Manjrekar, arguing that his comments were merely an observation based on Kohli's past performances and not intended as a personal attack. They highlighted that Manjrekar was simply praising the disciplined approach of Rahul and Jaiswal.
The incident underscores the fine line commentators often walk when analyzing players' performances, particularly when it involves comparing current players with former ones. While analysis and comparisons are part and parcel of the game, they can sometimes be perceived as critical or disrespectful, especially when directed towards players who have achieved legendary status.
