Manjrekar appears to take a dig at Kohli while commentating on Day 1 of Headingley Test: 'We know of a former batter...'

Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar appeared to take a swipe at batting superstar Virat Kohli while commentating on Day 1 of the first Test between India and England at Headingley, Leeds on Friday. Former India batter Manjrekar did not take Kohli’s name but spoke of a “former batter” who would have fallen into England’s off-side trap on the opening day of the five-Test series, while heaping praise on Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul.

Manjrekar hints at Kohli’s off-stump weakness while on commentary

Jaiswal and Rahul got India off to an ideal start with a 91-run opening stand after England captain Ben Stokes opted to field, and Manjrekar praised the two for leaving certain deliveries that had troubled Kohli throughout the five-match Test series in Australia last winter.

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“Deliveries outside the off stump, full, have been left alone. Jaiswal has done that. Anything that has been pitched right up into the stumps, he has driven. Anything that has been wide, he has looked to score on. KL Rahul has not touched one delivery or attempted to play one single delivery that’s been full, just outside off,” Manjrekar said while commentating on the match on JioHotstar.

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“We know of a former batter who would have gone after that delivery and got himself into trouble. But not these two,” he added.

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Sanjay Manjrekar Again Cooked Virat Kohli😭😭#INDvsENG . pic.twitter.com/ldkwOCRKSG

— Hrsha (@Hrsha_45) June 20, 2025

While Rahul fell for 42 shortly before lunch on Day 1, with debutant B Sai Sudharsan following him to the pavilion next over after getting dismissed for a four-ball duck, Jaiswal would go on to bring up his fifth Test hundred in his maiden outing on English soil.

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The southpaw also shared a 129-run third-wicket stand with Shubman Gill, who slammed a 56-ball half-century in his maiden outing as Test captain as well as at the No 4 slot.