Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has firmly defended his controversial opinion that One Day International (ODI) cricket is the easiest format for top-order batters, doubling down on his earlier remarks linking Virat Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket to a preference for the 50-over game. In a lengthy Instagram post, Manjrekar explained that the top three batting positions in ODIs come with built-in advantages, such as the absence of close-in fielders like four slips and a gully, and bowlers who primarily aim to restrict scoring in the powerplay rather than dismiss the batter outright. He argued that these conditions make it significantly easier to build big innings compared to the more demanding environment of Test cricket.

Manjrekar pointed to historical trends in Indian cricket, noting that several players who consistently opened or batted at No. 3 in ODIs were middle-order specialists in tests and showed reluctance to take on top-order roles in the longer format. “They were not very keen to open in Test cricket or bat in the top three,” he said. “They were very happy to play at No. 4, 5, and 6. But come one-day cricket, they were almost desperate to bat in the top three and open.” He highlighted that the lack of attacking field placements and the bowler’s containment mindset in the early overs of ODIs further tilt the balance in favor of the batter.

In contrast, Manjrekar praised the resilience of players like MS Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, and Suresh Raina, who excelled in the tougher middle-order positions (No. 4, 5, and 6) in ODIs, where they had to accelerate scoring under pressure with spread-out fields. “The tough place to bat in one-day cricket is where Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, or MS Dhoni would bat,” he stated. He argued that surviving the initial overs and then rotating the strike to reach a century is relatively straightforward for top-order batters, making it easier to post large scores compared to the high-pressure middle overs.

Also Read: Virat Kohli Opts Out of Vijay Hazare Trophy Match Ahead of New Zealand ODIs

Manjrekar concluded that ODI cricket, especially at the top of the order, is not the best yardstick for measuring true batting greatness due to these structural advantages. “One-day cricket is the last place I would look at to see my great batting of today because there's just far too much going for people who bat in the top three in one-day cricket,” he remarked. His comments build on earlier criticism where he expressed disappointment over Kohli “giving up” on Test cricket, suggesting that unresolved technical challenges may have contributed to the decision.

The remarks have once again sparked heated debate among fans, former players, and analysts about the relative difficulty of cricket’s three international formats. Kohli’s extraordinary achievements in ODIs are undisputed, with numerous records and centuries, yet his Test legacy—featuring multiple double centuries and consistent performances against quality attacks—remains widely regarded as a gold standard. Manjrekar’s viewpoint centers on format-specific conditions rather than individual brilliance, keeping the discussion alive as Indian cricket adjusts to life after Kohli in the Test arena.

Also Read: Virat Kohli 25 Runs Away From 28,000 International Milestone