Virat Kohli's Brother Hits Back: Sanjay Manjrekar Dubbed 'Mr Expert of Cricket'
Vikas Kohli sarcastically dubs Sanjay Manjrekar 'Mr Expert of Cricket' for labelling ODIs the easiest format, following Virat's unbeaten 124 in the Indore loss.
Virat Kohli’s brother, Vikas Kohli, has launched a sharp public response to former India cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar over remarks questioning the Indian star’s decision to continue playing only One Day Internationals after stepping away from Test cricket. The exchange stems from Manjrekar’s earlier comments in which he described ODIs as the “easiest format” for top-order batters and expressed disappointment that Kohli chose to focus on 50-over cricket rather than prolonging his Test career. Manjrekar suggested that Kohli’s retirement from Tests came without fully addressing the reasons behind his prolonged dip in form in the longest format.
Following Kohli’s century against New Zealand in the third ODI on Sunday, Vikas Kohli took to social media to hit back at the criticism. In a post on Threads, he questioned Manjrekar’s assessment, writing, “I wonder if Mr Expert of Cricket has some suggestions for the easiest form of cricket. You need to be there to do that. Anyways, as I said, easier said than done,” in a clear rebuttal of the former cricketer’s stance.
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This was not the first time Vikas Kohli had responded to Manjrekar’s views. Only days earlier, he had posted another message referencing similar comments, again challenging the idea that success in ODIs comes easily, even for elite players. His repeated responses underline the family’s visible frustration with the narrative surrounding Kohli’s career choices.
On the field, Virat Kohli scored 124 off 108 balls in the final ODI against New Zealand, registering another century despite India failing to chase a target of 337. Other top-order batters, including Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Shreyas Iyer, were unable to make significant contributions, resulting in a series loss for India.
Manjrekar, in his earlier remarks, had contrasted Kohli’s decision with the continued Test success of players like Joe Root, arguing that stepping away from Tests while continuing in ODIs was particularly disappointing. The comments, and the strong response they triggered, have added another layer to the ongoing debate over Kohli’s legacy and his choices in the latter stage of his career.
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