Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar has shared his views on the ongoing debate surrounding the performances of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli in Test cricket. The cricket expert has suggested that it is unfair to judge Kohli and Rohit by the same criteria, given their Test records.
Kohli and Rohit’s terrible form continued in the crucial Boxing Day Test where Team India suffered a 184-run defeat to hosts Australia who now lead the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 by a margin of 2-1, with the final Test scheduled for Sydney from 3 January.
Sanjay Manjrekar says Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli should not be judged by the same standards
In the fourth Test against Australia, Rohit made a solid start but was dismissed for just 9 after facing 40 balls, while Kohli again fell cheaply for 5, continuing his struggle with off-stump deliveries. Both batsmen have struggled in 2024, averaging just above 24 in Test cricket.
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The Indian captain has two centuries and two half-centuries this year, while Kohli has a ton and a fifty to his name in Test cricket in 2024. Fans and many pundits have been suggesting that the Indian batting icons should consider retiring from testing after his consistently low scores in the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 in Australia.
However, Sanjay Manjrekar feels that Kohli should be given more opportunities and praised the dashing right-hander as one of the best Test batsmen, but also questioned the role of India’s batting coach Abhishek Nayar as the latter continues to get out. in the same way.
Sanjay Manjrekar defends Virat Kohli, questions Indian batting coach’s role
The former Indian batsman has also emphatically said that there is no comparison between Rohit and Virat as Test batsmen. He criticized Abhishek Nayar for Kohli’s recurring problems and insisted that enough has been said about the former Indian captain and it is time to leave him alone.
Sanjay Manjrekar said on Star Sports: “I must say there is no comparison between Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli as Test batsmen. Kohli is up there. He is a great Test batsman and Rohit is a good Test batsman. Rohit’s white ball batting is fantastic. So, Virat obviously deserves a longer rope.
It’s not so much about Virat Kohli. I want to know what the Indian batting coach is doing. We can’t solve the obvious problem of such a good player. Enough has already been said about Virat Kohli; We just have to leave him alone.”
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Sanjay Manjrekar urges Indian cricket team management and Ajit Agarkar to act on Rohit Sharma’s Test future
Manjrekar also urged the Indian cricket team management not to wait for Rohit Sharma to take a call about his Test future but to take action themselves. The commentator pointed out that Indian chief selector Ajit Agarkar has enough power to make decisions for Indian cricket.
He highlighted that it is now Ajit Agarkar’s responsibility to decide the future, not Rohit Sharma’s, but reiterated that Virat Kohli’s situation is a very different matter. Manjrekar further explained, “Actually, it is not up to Rohit Sharma. If we look at the protocol and hierarchy of team selection, the president of the selectors has the decision to make.”
Manjrekar signed off by saying: “He has the power to do what is best for Indian cricket, so it is not so much about Rohit Sharma himself, you know, deciding what the future should be. The president of the coach has that power. That’s with Rohit, and he looks down on the stalemate. “Virat Kohli is a completely different matter.”