Harbhajan Singh Fires Back at Manjrekar Over Virat Kohli Comments
Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has delivered a sharp response to commentator Sanjay Manjrekar's recent remarks about Virat Kohli. Manjrekar had suggested that Kohli chose "the easiest format to play" by continuing in One Day Internationals while stepping away from Test cricket.
Defending a Legend's Legacy
Harbhajan Singh defended Kohli's stature and consistency during an event on Wednesday. He called such opinions unfair and dismissive of what it takes to succeed at the highest level of international cricket.
"If it was so easy to score runs in any format, then everyone would have made it," Harbhajan stated firmly. "Let's just enjoy what people are doing. They are playing well, winning games, scoring runs, and taking wickets. That's all that matters."
The veteran spinner emphasized that format preferences don't diminish a player's achievements. "It doesn't matter who plays which format. Virat, whether he plays in one format or all formats, has been a fantastic player and a big time match winner for India."
Kohli's Enduring Influence
Harbhajan further highlighted Kohli's profound impact on Indian cricket. He described the former captain as an inspiration for younger players who represent the future of the sport.
"They inspire the next generation," Harbhajan noted. "Manjrekar has his own way of thinking. The way I see it is that Virat and these players have played a major role to take this game forward. Virat is an unbelievable player. Even today, if he plays Test cricket, he will be our main player."
Manjrekar's Controversial Stance
Manjrekar's comments emerged during a period when Kohli has displayed excellent form in the ODI format. The former India batter, known for his blunt opinions, argued that modern one-day cricket has become significantly easier for top-order batters.
In an Instagram video, Manjrekar explained his position by comparing batting roles across different formats. "A lot of people have asked me why I keep saying ODI cricket is easy for top-order batters," he said.
He pointed out that several Indian batters prefer opening in ODIs but remain content batting in the middle order during Test matches. Manjrekar added that limited fielding restrictions and bowlers focusing more on run control than taking wickets make life simpler for top-order batters in the fifty-over format.
Timing and Reactions
The timing of Manjrekar's remarks proved particularly controversial. They came just after Kohli scored a fluent 93 runs in the first ODI against New Zealand on Sunday. The comments triggered widespread debate and criticism across the cricket community.
Kohli's brother, Vikas Kohli, issued a strong response defending the former India captain. The discussion has sparked conversations about:
- The relative challenges of different cricket formats
- How we evaluate modern batting performances
- The respect due to players with Kohli's track record
Harbhajan's defense underscores the high regard Kohli maintains within the cricketing fraternity. It also highlights ongoing debates about format specialization in modern cricket.
