Sanjay Manjrekar and Virat Kohli - (Source: X.com)
It has been a mixed 2025 for Virat Kohli fans as the India legend kick-started the year by lifting the Champions Trophy. Further, Virat ended his IPL trophy drought after RCB lifted the title, ending an 18-year-long wait.
The year took a drastic turn as Virat Kohli announced his shocking retirement from Test cricket in May 2025. The decision sent shockwaves among the fans who were disheartened to see their idol quit red-ball cricket at the age of 36.
Notably, Virat bid adieu to the game after scoring 9230 runs in 210 innings, averaging 46.85. At present, the 37-year-old is active in ODIs, a format he has dominated over the years. In the latest events, former Indian star turned presenter Sanjay Manjrekar has come down heavily on Virat and slammed him for not regaining his lost mojo in red-ball cricket before hanging up his boots.
Sanjay Manjrekar puts on Joe Root-example for Virat Kohli
Manjrekar, in an instagram video, dropped a Joe Root, Steve Smith example for Virat Kohli. Notably, in the ongoing fifth Ashes Test, two of the fab four members slammed centuries and it pained Manjrekar to see Virat giving up on Tests at the age of 36.
“Well, as Joe Root attains new heights in Test cricket, my mind goes to Virat Kohli. He’s walked away from Tests, and it’s unfortunate that in the five years that he struggled before retiring, he didn’t quite put his heart and soul into finding out the problems as to why he was averaging 31 for five years in Tests. That is for another time as to what he could have done. But I just feel sad that people like Joe Root and Steve Smith, Kane Williamson are really making a name for themselves in Test Cricket,” Manjrekar said on his Instagram handle.
Manjrekar takes a dig at Virat Kohli playing ODIs
Sanjay Manjrekar slammed Virat for choosing an easy format post-Test retirement and stated that it hurt him more to see the former India captain play in a format where he excels.
“It was okay if Virat Kohli had just walked away from cricket, retired from all cricket. But that he’s chosen to play one-day cricket actually disappoints me more, because this is a format which, for a top-order batter, I’ve said before as well, is the easiest format.”
Notably, Virat has impressive numbers in ODIs as the 37-year-old has 14557 runs in 296 innings, averaging 58.46.
Manjrekar complaints Virat of not trying enough in Test cricket
“The format that really tests you is first, obviously, Test Cricket, and T20 cricket has its different challenges. The other thing is because he’s so fit, supremely fit, you feel even more that he could have maybe continued his fight, you know, to get back into form, even if he was left out of a series, he could have maybe gone down to first-class cricket, played in Australia, England, more matches in India, tried to make another comeback,” added Manjrekar.
Notably, Virat will next be seen in action in three-match ODI series against New Zealand starting from January 11.
