Sanjay Manjrekar

After facing backlash during his first tour to Australia, Ravichandran Ashwin experienced a strong critique from Sanjay Manjrekar that stung him deeply. However, rather than succumbing to negativity, Ashwin leveraged this feedback to enhance his bowling skills and fitness. In a surprising move, he later reached out to Manjrekar to express gratitude for the constructive criticism, a transformative moment that shaped his approach to feedback throughout his esteemed career.

Former India cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar and Murali Kartik get into an awkward exchange during the Galle Test broadcast. What begins as playful banter over Manjrekar’s facial expression soon turns personal, with both taking digs at each other’s appearance. Manjrekar eventually acknowledges that they are approaching a line and warns, “We are both going to cross lines here and social media will have a field day."

Ravichandran Ashwin opened up about the initial sting from Sanjay Manjrekar's critical comments, which fueled his desire to elevate his fitness and refine his bowling. Manjrekar later praised Ashwin in an article, acknowledging his remarkable performances. As a testament to his skill, Ashwin concluded his career as India's second-highest international wicket-taker with 765 wickets, solidifying his status as one of the country's finest all-rounders, still active in T20 leagues.

When Yashasvi Jaiswal walked out to bat in Galle for the first Test against Sri Lanka, he was playing the 30th Test of his career. The milestone came with an unusual record - Jaiswal has played each of his first 30 Tests at a different venue. The India opener has never played a Test at the same ground twice. His journey began in Roseau in July 2023 and, after stops across the Caribbean, South Africa, India, England and Australia, he reached his 30th Test in Galle on Saturday.

On the first day in Galle, Devdutt Padikkal shone brightly, scoring an unbeaten 131 runs. His technique against Sri Lanka's spinners garnered high praise from Sanjay Manjrekar, who noted Padikkal's impressive back-foot play and attacking style. This stellar performance strengthens his candidacy for the number three batting slot and marks a notable milestone in the young Indian cricketer's career.

Devdutt Padikkal’s career has been marked by such recoveries. After a modest 119 runs in five matches in the 2023-24 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he responded with 465 runs at 155 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and 556 at 92.66 in the Ranji Trophy, including three centuries.

Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar criticised India's T20I series loss to England. He stated sacking players or coaches would be an easy but ineffective solution. Manjrekar believes overseas conditions and IPL preparation are the real issues. He argued IPL batting conditions mask players' true abilities abroad. The focus should be on those creating favorable IPL batting environments.

Taking to X after the match, Manjrekar welcomed the 15-year-old's debut but wondered why Samson had been left out of the playing XI.

Rohit Sharma is back for India's ODI series against England, sparking debate about his 2027 World Cup prospects. Former player Sanjay Manjrekar advocates for prioritizing younger talent for the future of Indian cricket, suggesting Rohit might not be the ideal choice for the next World Cup squad. Virat Kohli also returns, pending fitness. The squad features a mix of experienced and new faces for the upcoming series.

India's young batting lineup faltered in Ireland's seamer-friendly conditions, leading to a surprising 2-0 T20I series loss. Former player Sanjay Manjrekar points to an over-reliance on all-rounders, advocating for a specialist middle-order batter. He suggests Shubman Gill, with his adaptability, is a prime candidate for a return to T20 plans, offering depth on challenging pitches.

Former India captain Ajay Jadeja lauded Ben Stokes' retirement, calling it the "right call" and a testament to his refusal to be dictated by external forces. Jadeja admired Stokes' principled stand, suggesting the all-rounder wouldn't tolerate administrators controlling his personal life. Meanwhile, Sanjay Manjrekar expressed sadness, calling Stokes' departure an "end of an era" and highlighting his match-winning prowess on the big stage.

Debate erupts over Yashasvi Jaiswal's omission from the ODI team following his remarkable century. Sanjay Manjrekar, a former player, critiques this 'harsh' decision, questioning the selection committee's long-term strategy for Rohit Sharma's future. He argues for merit-based selections and stresses the importance of nurturing young talent like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, asserting that the focus should be on what benefits Indian cricket as a whole.

Following India's T20I loss to Ireland, former player Sanjay Manjrekar warns Sanju Samson about the rising competition. With young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi on the horizon, Samson faces pressure to perform. While Sooryavanshi's talent is acknowledged, Manjrekar suggests he might not have single-handedly altered the game's outcome, emphasizing the difficulty of the chase and the current lack of openings at the top of the order.

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar suggested dropping Vaibhav Sooryavanshi from the India A squad as a disciplinary action following an on-field altercation with Sri Lanka A players. Despite provocations, Manjrekar emphasized that physical contact is unacceptable. The 15-year-old's recent form has also been inconsistent, contrasting with his stellar IPL 2026 performance.

Sanjay Manjrekar, former Indian cricketer who played over 100 international matches for the country, is one of the most sought-after cricket commentators today. Looking composed and relaxed ahead of the recent India vs Australia T20 match at Chinnaswamy Stadium, he got chatty with us about cricket and more. Excerpts...

Sanjay Manjrekar is one of the most trolled personalities on social media

Former India captain Dilip Vengsarkar's unwavering support for Sanjay Manjrekar's 1989 West Indies tour selection is highlighted. Despite resistance, Vengsarkar championed the young batter, who emerged as India's top scorer. Manjrekar also shared anecdotes about Vengsarkar's mentorship and his unique personality, calling him a "buddy" and a "Legend with a Difference."

Young Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's IPL heroics have ignited a debate on his national team prospects. While some advocate for a fast-track, former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar urges caution, emphasizing the difference between T20 success and red-ball cricket. Manjrekar believes Sooryavanshi should chart his own career path, free from undue pressure and public speculation.

Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's explosive IPL 2026 performance, including 776 runs and 72 sixes, has ignited calls for his immediate promotion to India's T20I squad. While many former cricketers back the young talent, ex-player Sanjay Manjrekar urges caution, advocating for gradual exposure to international conditions and allowing his career to develop organically.