Sanjay Manjrekar's Subtle Jab at Virat Kohli During India vs England Test

Day 1 Highlights of India vs England Test
On June 20, during the first Test match against England at Headingley, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar made a veiled comment about batting icon Virat Kohli. After England's captain Ben Stokes opted to bat first, Indian openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul provided a solid start, forming a 91-run partnership before KL Rahul was dismissed for 42 by Brydon Carse. Rahul displayed excellent technique against the new ball, leaving deliveries outside the off-stump with confidence.
Manjrekar's Commentary Sparks Discussion
Although Kohli is not participating in this Test series due to his retirement from the longest format, Manjrekar referenced him during the commentary. In the 22nd over, KL Rahul left an off-stump delivery from Stokes, which prompted Manjrekar to draw a comparison. He remarked that a 'former batter' would have attempted to play that delivery and potentially faced trouble.
Manjrekar's comment, made during the live broadcast on JioHotstar, hinted at Kohli's past struggles with off-stump deliveries, particularly noted during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy where he faced difficulties against outswingers. Kohli's performance in that series was below par, scoring 190 runs at an average of 23.75.
Jaiswal and Gill Steady the Innings
Following KL Rahul's exit, Yashasvi Jaiswal was joined by debutant Sai Sudharsan, who unfortunately fell for a duck after just four balls. Shubman Gill then came to the crease, and together with Jaiswal, they stabilized India's innings. The duo managed to guide the team past the 150-run mark after the lunch break, with Jaiswal achieving his maiden Test fifty against England in the 34th over. Their partnership of 50 runs was crucial in rebuilding the innings after a shaky start.