Former Indian cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has voiced fresh disappointment regarding Virat Kohli's departure from Test cricket. His comments came in the wake of England's Joe Root scoring his 41st century in the longest format, a milestone that has reignited discussions about the celebrated 'Fab Four' of modern batting.
An Emotional Reaction to Root's Milestone
In a heartfelt video shared on Instagram, Manjrekar admitted that watching Joe Root, Steve Smith, and Kane Williamson excel in Test matches now brings him a sense of loss. Virat Kohli remains the only member of that elite quartet to have stepped away from Test cricket. Manjrekar's primary concern isn't the retirement itself, but its selective nature and the period of struggle that preceded it.
"Well, as Joe Root attains new heights in Test cricket, my mind goes to Virat Kohli," Manjrekar stated. He pointed out that during the five-year lean phase where Kohli averaged around 31, the batter perhaps did not invest fully in diagnosing and solving his technical issues in the red-ball game.
The Disappointment of Selective Retirement
Manjrekar elaborated that he would have found it easier to accept if Kohli had retired from all forms of cricket. The fact that he continues to play One-Day Internationals is more puzzling to the former batter. "This is a format which, for a top-order batter, I've said before as well, is the easiest format," Manjrekar remarked, emphasising that Test cricket presents the ultimate challenge for any player.
He underscored the unique demands of the five-day game, stating, "The format that really tests you is first, obviously, Test Cricket, and T20 cricket has its different challenges." For Manjrekar, Kohli's decision to walk away from the toughest arena while continuing in the shorter formats is a point of contention.
A Missed Opportunity for a Comeback?
Highlighting Kohli's legendary fitness and discipline, Manjrekar suggested a potential path for a red-ball return was always open. He felt that someone with Kohli's physical conditioning could have continued the fight to regain form.
"Because he's so fit, supremely fit, you feel even more that he could have maybe continued his fight to get back into form," Manjrekar said. He proposed that even if dropped from the national side, Kohli could have played first-class cricket in countries like Australia and England, or more domestic matches in India, to engineer a comeback.
The video concluded on a poignant note, with Manjrekar reflecting on Kohli's genuine passion for the format. "When Joe Root gets hundreds or gets runs, or Steve Smith, Kane Williamson, my mind goes to Virat Kohli with a sense of disappointment and a little bit of sadness, because he cared so much for Test Cricket, didn't he?" This emotional response underscores the lasting impact of Kohli's decision on those who closely follow the sport.
