Sanjay Manjrekar recently expressed his admiration for Virat Kohli after the Indian star stepped up to bat at No. 3 in the first Test against New Zealand, filling in for the injured Shubman Gill, who was sidelined due to stiffness in his neck. In a post on social media platform X, Manjrekar praised Kohli as a "true champion," highlighting his willingness to put the team's needs first during a crucial match at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.
Manjrekar's remarks came with a pointed comparison to former Indian captains Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar, whom he criticized for their reluctance to bat higher in the order during Test matches. He noted that while both players were eager to open in white-ball cricket, they were not as keen to take on the challenge of batting at the top of the order in Tests. “Hats off to Virat Kohli! Coming out to bat at No. 3 because the team needed it. Ganguly, Tendulkar were very keen to open in white-ball cricket but never wanted to go up the order in Tests. That's a true champion right there for you! Virat,” Manjrekar wrote.
However, Kohli's commendable decision did not yield the desired results for the Indian team. The 35-year-old veteran faced a challenging delivery from New Zealand pacer William O'Rourke, which nipped back sharply and forced him into a defensive posture. Unfortunately, in his attempt to protect his wicket, the ball made contact with Kohli's gloves and was brilliantly caught by Glenn Phillips, resulting in Kohli's dismissal for a duck after just nine balls faced.
Despite the setback, Kohli's willingness to take on the No. 3 spot amid challenging circumstances showcases his commitment to the team and willingness to lead by example. Manjrekar's commentary not only underscores Kohli's leadership qualities but also highlights the evolving dynamics of the Indian batting order as they prepare for the Test series against New Zealand and beyond. Kohli's experience and determination remain crucial assets for the team as they navigate through this critical phase of their cricketing journey.
