Sanjay Manjrekar

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar voiced strong reservations about the IPL's Impact Player rule, fearing it hinders the holistic development of young cricketers like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. He argued the rule creates one-dimensional players, limiting their exposure and preventing a full assessment of their all-round abilities. Manjrekar stressed that cricket should test players across disciplines for sustainable success.

Former India cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar and Mohammad Kaif recently pointed out areas where the Rajasthan Royals batter still needs improvement.

Despite missing IPL 2026 due to multiple injuries, MS Dhoni remained the centre of attention for CSK. Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar criticised the franchise for becoming too emotional over Dhoni instead of focusing on results and team balance. While praising Dhoni’s legacy, Manjrekar said CSK must prioritise performances and reality over sentiment moving forward.

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes Virat Kohli is “very sensitive to criticism” despite often saying he ignores outside noise. Manjrekar revealed Kohli sometimes became “cold” towards him after negative remarks. He added criticism may motivate Kohli to perform better. Manjrekar also praised Kohli’s aggressive leadership in Test cricket, calling him one of India’s greatest captains during his successful tenure.

Sanjay Manjrekar expresses concern over Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's limited role as an Impact Player in IPL 2026. He argues that restricting the 15-year-old to just batting hinders his overall cricketing development, emphasizing the importance of fielding experience and pressure situations for a complete cricketer.

Rajasthan's 15-year-old batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, an Impact Player, faces scrutiny from former India players for not fielding. Assistant coach Trevor Penny defends the decision, citing Sooryavanshi's fielding skills and the strategy to keep him fresh for his explosive batting, which has impressed many.

Delhi Capitals' head coach Hemang Badani expressed frustration over their dismal home record in IPL 2026, attributing it to inconsistent and unpredictable pitch conditions at Arun Jaitley Stadium. Despite a win against Rajasthan Royals, the team's struggles at home, with five losses and two wins, highlight a significant challenge in their playoff pursuit.

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes Virat Kohli's elite fitness culture sets a benchmark that Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav may have fallen short of. Manjrekar suggested that a decline in physical conditioning, particularly after 30, has made things harder for Rohit and Suryakumar, impacting their performance, especially in T20 cricket.

The International Cricket Council has maintained an unchanged list of match officials for the 2026-27 international season. Nitin Menon continues as the sole Indian on the ICC Elite Panel of Umpires, while Javagal Srinath remains the only Indian in the ICC Elite Panel of Match Referees. This decision reflects the consistency and high standards in international officiating.

Sanjay Manjrekar urges Sanju Samson to emulate Virat Kohli's fitness dedication for sustained success. Despite Samson's stellar IPL 2026 season with two centuries and over 400 runs for CSK, Manjrekar believes the 31-year-old wicketkeeper-batter can enhance his physical conditioning. He highlighted Kohli's longevity, attributing it to prioritizing fitness to complement his skills and prevent physical limitations.

His performances have led to discussions about whether he could be selected for the India team after the IPL, and Manjrekar said he has done enough to be considered.

Thirty-five years ago, the 1990-91 Ranji Trophy final between Mumbai and Haryana delivered an unforgettable thriller. Haryana, led by Kapil Dev, clinched their maiden title by a mere two runs in a dramatic finish at the Wankhede Stadium. The match featured stellar performances and a nail-biting conclusion, cementing its place as a classic in Indian domestic cricket history.

Virat Kohli's T20 batting transformation this IPL season is attributed to a key realisation: he's no longer indispensable. Sanjay Manjrekar notes Kohli now bats quicker, trusting teammates and abandoning the anchor role. This shift, boosting his strike rate significantly, has unlocked RCB's potential, proving modern T20 demands aggression over individual longevity.

Chennai Super Kings are struggling in IPL 2026, with captain Ruturaj Gaikwad facing criticism for both team results and personal form. Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar places blame on CSK's decision-makers, citing the mishandling of MS Dhoni's role and a culture of sycophancy that clouds judgment. He argues for prioritizing players in their prime over established stars.

Ravi Shastri hosted a celebratory bash in Mumbai, bringing together cricketing legends like Sunil Gavaskar, Allan Border, and Sachin Tendulkar. The event honored Shastri's stand being named at Wankhede Stadium, recognizing his significant contributions to Indian cricket. The gathering highlighted the camaraderie and respect among these iconic figures.

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

r Sanjay Manjrekar tried to be a bit cheeky and tried to correct Mirza’s tweet. Little did Manjrekar would have anticipated that his one tweet would kick start a series of tweets banter resulting in Sania owing the cricket star on the micro-blogging site.

The moment he finished his song, he lifted his face with a little trepidation to get the response from his music teacher, intensely watching him from the other side of the glass door of the recording studio.