Sanjay Manjrekar Criticizes Virat Kohli’s Decision to Retire from Test Cricket

New Delhi: Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has once again taken a jibe at Virat Kohli, this time criticizing his decision to retire from Test cricket. Manjrekar’s comments come after Joe Root reached his milestone of 41 Test centuries, sparking a comparison among the modern-day greats, including Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, and Virat Kohli—all part of the renowned “Fab 4” of modern cricket. Interestingly, Kohli is the only one among them to have retired from Test cricket.

In a video shared on his Instagram handle, Manjrekar expressed his disappointment with Kohli’s decision. He pointed out that despite Kohli’s long-standing struggles in Test cricket over the last five years, he did not seem to have fully explored the reasons behind his slump, with his Test average remaining at 31 during this period.

Manjrekar’s Criticism of Kohli’s Form and Decision

In the video, Manjrekar stated, “Joe Root has taken Test cricket to new heights. And here I am thinking about Virat Kohli. He has retired from Test cricket, which is truly unfortunate. Before retiring, he struggled for five years, and never seemed to invest enough in figuring out why his average in Tests was just 31.”

The Issue with Kohli’s Limited Retirement

Manjrekar emphasized that his issue isn’t with Kohli’s decision to retire but with the selective nature of his retirement. He believes that if Kohli had retired from all formats of cricket, it would have been easier to understand. “It would have made sense if Kohli retired from all formats of cricket, but his decision to continue playing One-Day Internationals is what bothers me,” said Manjrekar. “ODIs are the easiest format for a top-order batsman. That’s why I find his decision to keep playing the 50-over format somewhat disappointing.”

Why Test Cricket Remains More Significant

Manjrekar also explained why he considers Test cricket to be the most important format. He stated, “The format that truly tests your abilities is undoubtedly Test cricket. While T20 cricket has its own set of challenges, Test cricket remains the ultimate test for a player’s skill and temperament.”

Kohli’s Potential Comeback

Despite his criticism, Manjrekar acknowledged Kohli’s discipline and fitness. He mentioned that Kohli could still make a comeback to Test cricket if he wished to. “Given his exceptional fitness, I believe Kohli could have continued his fight and made a return to form. Even if he had been dropped from the national team, he could have played First-Class cricket, especially in countries like Australia, England, and India, and made another attempt to return.”