"India Didn't Miss Virat or Rohit": Sanjay Manjrekar's Remark Sparks Outrage Among Fans After Manchester Test

Despite Team India's solid performance and a fighting draw in the Manchester Test, a controversial statement by former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has stirred backlash among fans—especially those of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.

Speaking on Jio Hotstar, Manjrekar subtly criticized the senior duo's recent Test form, suggesting that their absence in the England series hasn’t impacted the team’s success.

Manjrekar’s Controversial Statement

“Rohit Sharma was batting at an average of 10 in the last series. Virat Kohli was averaging 30 over the last five years. Replacing them wasn’t easy—but it wasn’t a huge loss either. It was the loss of two senior players, not the loss of their contribution.”

This statement is being seen as a public insult to two of India’s biggest cricketing icons, as Manjrekar implied that their recent form wasn’t significant enough to be missed.

The Rise of New Performers

Manjrekar’s remarks came in light of India’s dominant batting display in the ongoing England series. The top four run-scorers so far are all Indian batters:

• Shubman Gill – 722 runs

• KL Rahul – 511 runs

• Rishabh Pant – 479 runs

• Ravindra Jadeja – 454 runs at an average of 113.50

These numbers reflect a strong new core forming within the team—perhaps what Manjrekar intended to highlight—but his comparison with Virat and Rohit’s past performances has not gone down well with fans, who believe the contribution of the two legends goes beyond just numbers.