A new controversy has emerged in the cricketing fraternity after former Indian player and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar shared a tweet listing leading IPL scorers, it appeared as though he left out Virat Kohli’s name. This didn’t go down well with Vikas Kohli, brother of Kohli, who went onto social media to criticize Manjrekar’s selective appreciation and came to Virat’s defense for his performance in the current season.
Manjrekar’s post praised players like Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma, and Jake Fraser-McGurk for their explosive strike rates in the IPL, sparking debate among fans for excluding India’s former captain, despite his consistent run-scoring. Vikas Kohli’s response was sharp and pointed, reminding the former cricketer of Virat’s contributions not just in terms of runs, but also in anchoring innings under pressure.
The exclusion has again sparked debates over how statistics such as strike rate are generally employed to discount the worth of conventional batting strategies in the T20 game. Although players such as Kohli are not always likely to have the greatest strike rates, his presence and strategic innings have frequently proven critical to his team’s achievements—something his fans argue need not be overlooked.
Social media was quick to come out in support of Vikas Kohli’s comments, congratulating him on standing up for the star batsman. The incident once again reflects the persistent animosity between former players-turned- critics and the present crop of players, particularly in the high-pressure, emotionally charged IPL season.
