Just a few hours to go before the big India vs Pakistan match in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, which Colombo is ready to host on Sunday night (February 15). Ahead of the match, a former Indian cricketer has questioned India's no-handshake policy with the Pakistan cricket team.

Since the Asia Cup T20 2025, the Indian team has been following the no-handshake policy with the Pakistan team in every cricket event. This decision has been taken in protest of the 2025 Pahalgam attack.

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjarekar has questioned the Indian cricketers' no-handshake policy with the Pakistan cricket team. He also related it with spirit of the game.

Watch: 'Eat food and...'- Suryakumar Yadav reflects on handshake controversy ahead of IND vs PAK T20 WC 2026

This ‘no shaking hands’ is such a silly thing: Sanjay Manjarekar

Manjarekar wrote on his social media post, "This ‘no shaking hands’ is such a silly thing that India has started. It’s unbecoming of a nation like ours. Either play properly within the spirit of the game or don’t play at all."

This ‘no shaking hands’ is such a silly thing that India has started. It’s unbecoming of a nation like ours. Either play properly within the spirit of the game or don’t play at all.

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 15, 2026

However, many Indian cricket fans haven't agreed with the former Indian cricketers' views on India's no-handshake policy, as they are defending the national team's decision. 

While India vs Pakistan cricket rivalry is always heated on and off the ground, the Pakistan cricket team, including the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi, has criticised India's no handshake policy. 

There are no mandatory handshake rules in the sport, but handshaking is now a common part. However, due to the tense political situation between the two countries or for any other big reasons, sometimes either or both teams decide not to shake hands with their opponents. While most of these off-practice remained in silence, the India-Pakistan rivalry has added to the spirit of the game.

I hope the match will be played in true sportsmanship: Pakistan captain

On the eve of the upcoming India-Pakistan ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 match, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said, "I hope the match will be played in true sportsmanship. If the Indian team plans to shake hands, we’ll find that out tomorrow. Definitely, we do not have a good record against the Indians, but we can't change history, and every day is a new day.” With this comment, he indirectly linked India's no-handshake policy to the question of "true sportsmanship."

Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has named Varun Chakaravarthy as one of India’s key X-factor players for the upcoming T20 World Cup 2026. He also picked Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan as other match-winners for the team. The tournament will begin on Saturday, February 7, and will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Ahead of the tournament, Manjrekar shared a video on Instagram on Friday, February 6. In the video, he named Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand as the strongest teams. He also said India are the best team in the tournament and have the highest chance of winning the trophy.

Manjrekar explained that his view is based on X-factor players who can change a match at any time. He said the more such players a team has, the better their chances of winning. He added that players like Varun Chakaravarthy can take quick wickets and turn the game around. Manjrekar said India have many such players, including Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya.

Also read -Watch: Suryakumar Yadav having fun with South Africa support staff during IND vs SA warm-up match

India Enters T20 World Cup 2026 With Strong Momentum

India will enter the T20 World Cup 2026 in good form after beating New Zealand 4-1 in their recent home T20I series. Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar believes this strong run, along with India’s match-winners, makes the team a top contender for the title.

In a recent video, Manjrekar praised India’s bowling attack and said other strong teams do not have as many X-factor bowlers as India. He highlighted key names who can change a match at any moment.

Manjrekar Praises India’s X-Factor Bowlers

“Bowling, very important. The other team that I mentioned, the strong team, don't quite have as many X factors in their bowling that India has. India have at least three. Bumrah, the master. Then you've got Varun Chakaravarthy, another X factor bowler. And Kuldeep Yadav on Indian pitches,” Manjrekar said.

He added that India have more X-factor players than other teams. “I may have missed a few Indian batters, but I'm thinking India has at least six or seven X factor players as opposed to the other teams, which don't have quite as many,” he added.

Manjrekar also spoke about the importance of bowling in big tournaments. “And especially in the bowling department, India won the last World T20 in the US and West Indies because of some fine bowling that India was able to defend. A score that wasn't huge. So, watch out for the team that has quality bowlers and India have that with the three magicians that I mentioned. Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy and right on top, Jasprit Bumrah,” he said.

India will begin their T20 World Cup 2026 campaign on the opening day of the tournament against the USA at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

The former Indian batter, Sanjay Manjrekar, has spoken out on the decision of Virat Kohli to retire from the longest format of the game. He reckoned that if one looks back at Indian cricket at the last few years, Manjrekar claimed that whoever opened in the ODIs had previously been middle-order batters in Tests. He felt that bowlers don’t aim to get top-order batters early.

Kohli, who has been a long-time successful campaigner for the blue brigade at number three in ODIs, has notched up overall 14557 runs in 296 innings at an average of 58.46 and a strike rate of 93.65, thanks to 76 half-centuries and 53 centuries at the best score of 183 runs against Sri Lanka.

See Also: Star RCB player ruled out with injury from WPL 2026

“A lot of people have asked me why I keep saying ODIs are easy for top-order batters. Go back a few years in Indian cricket and look at the guys who were opening for India for a long time in 50-over cricket. Those batters were middle-order batters in Tests. They weren’t very keen to open in Tests or bat in the top three. They were very happy to play at No. 4, 5, 6.” Manjrekar expressed in his Instagram video.

Sanjay Manjrekar doubles down on ‘easiest format’ comment regarding Virat Kohli

In the previous interaction on social media, Manjrekar shed light on his disappointment over Kohli leaving the longest format to focus on the 50-over format. He noted that the Delhi batter remains the leading century-maker in the 50-over format.

Watch the video here: 

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaysphotos)

“But come ODIs, they were almost desperate to bat in the top three and open. Therein lies the answer as to why I believe it is easy for top order batters, because everybody is queuing up to bat in the top three.” Manjrekar addressed.

“As Joe Root attains new heights in Test cricket, my mind goes to Virat Kohli. He’s walked away from Tests, and it’s unfortunate that in the five years that he struggled before retiring, he didn’t quite put his heart and soul into finding out why he was averaging 31 for five years in Tests.” The Mumbai-born added in the previous video.

The former Indian batter and renowned commentator, Sanjay Manjrekar, has dropped an explosive comment on the home side’s 0-2 series against South Africa, including their massive 408-run defeat against the Proteas as India struggled with the bat in all four innings in the series, crossing 200 only once.

Talking about India’s dismal batting display, Manjrekar lashed out with explosive comments on his Instagram handle. Only two Indian batters, Ravindra Jadeja and Yashasvi Jaiswal, scored a half-century in the Protea series, which highlighted their struggles against the spin and seam of the home side.

See Also: BCCI to hold meeting on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s future after home South Africa series

“There are two reasons India went down 0-3 to New Zealand and 0-2 to South Africa at home. And both teams beat India not by pace, swing, or bounce but by spin. One is when an Indian batter scores heavily in domestic cricket and gets selected for India; he becomes like an NRI. In the sense that he hardly plays at home. It's more overseas cricket for Indian batters.” Manjrekar expressed on his Instagram account.

Sanjay Manjrekar slams India’s batters’ performance in home South Africa series

Manjrekar further added that the inability of the power-hitting Indian batters to use their footwork against spin was well documented. That resulted in Simon Harmer ending the two-match series with 17 wickets, thanks to his quality off-spin bowling at an average of under nine.

“Looking at numbers, people like Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Shubman Gill, and Rishabh Pant play anything between nine and 12 Test matches away from home the last two years, and in India, not as many. And when they play Tests at home, there are hardly any first-class matches that they've played. So they come very poorly trained or with any recent experience on those kinds of pitches.” Manjrekar addressed the video.

“The other thing is that on turning pitches against good spinners, power doesn't work. Stand and deliver doesn't work. It can work even when you don't move your feet and just throw your bat around on fast, pacy, and bouncy pitches. It's a slightly high-risk approach, but you can have some success.” The Mumbai-born noted in the same video.

Ex-India cricketer and analyst Sanjay Manjrekar praised MS Dhoni, emphasizing his exceptional leadership skills and influence on the team’s success. According to him, Dhoni had a rare gift of inspiring and guiding his players, no matter the situation.

Manjrekar pointed out how Dhoni had the ability to transform even an average-looking side into a team of champions. His calmness and trust in his players often brought the best out of them, which played a key role in India’s numerous triumphs under his captaincy.

The former batter also admired Dhoni’s temperament in big games. He noted that he consistently handled pressure with ease, especially in finals, making the difference when it mattered the most for the team.

See Also: ‘Cameras were shut off….’ Lalit Modi drops shocking revelation Harbhajan Singh and Sreesanth’s famous slapgate controversy

Sanjay Manjrekar Highlights MS Dhoni’s Leadership Qualities:

Sanjay Manjrekar, speaking on Stalin Mathias’ YouTube channel, highlighted MS Dhoni’s unmatched record as captain. Manjrekar noted that Dhoni guided India to landmark wins: the 2007 T20 World Cup, 2011 ODI World Cup, and 2013 Champions Trophy.

Sanjay Manjrekar highlighted Dhoni’s calm nature and smart decision-making, noting they played a crucial role in turning high-pressure tournaments into historic, unforgettable victories for Indian cricket.

He said, “ I would rank Imran Khan from the days gone by, and after that, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, as to what he was able to do as a captain. I thought he single-handedly raised the bar for the team and got even, maybe an average team sometimes, an inexperienced team, for example, in that 2007 T20 World Cup to go and win titles..”

He further said, “ And I think he was different when it came to performances on the big stage. He played the final just like he would play one of the earlier league matches. I think the moment, just that whole stay that you have for the big finals, can get to a lot of players and definitely gets to a few captains as well. MS was different in that regard.”

Sanjay Manjrekar Praises Virat Kohli’s Brilliance in 2014 Australia Tour:

Sanjay Manjrekar also praised ex-India skipper Virat Kohli for his fearless approach during the 2014 Australia series. He hailed Kohli as a “mentality monster” for his fighting spirit and consistency, highlighting his four centuries in tough conditions. Manjrekar, in the same video, credited Kohli’s performances for setting new standards in Indian cricket.

He said, “ Virat Kohli, for me, is at the top. Indian cricket have had greats, mentally strong, who are not demonstrative it was not obvious to see. They all had their aggression from Sunil Gavaskar, Tendulkar, and Kapil Dev. It was not that visible.”

He further said, “ Virat Kohli was one of the first guys that I saw, and that was during the 2014 trip to Australia after England, where he had a difficult time at the battle. He went to Australia and got four 100s. And I remember him taking on the Australian players head-on and gave it back to them verbally, and he walked the talk as well.”

He added, “ And I thought at that time that it was great because Indian cricket didn’t have any leading figure being like this. Pakistan in the past used to have a Javed Miandad who did that to take on Denis Lilly, and the things that he did, plus a great batter.”

He concluded, “ So, that was nice to see. I mean, it’s not really about how you get runs, it’s about how many runs you get. That’s the real value. But he did both Virat Kohli and, I remember feeling very very proud at the time.”

Virat Kohli showcased his brilliance in the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, scoring a remarkable 692 runs across eight innings. Averaging 86.50, he dominated the Australian attack with consistency and class, proving why he was regarded as one of the finest batters of his generation.

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar praised legendary captain MS Dhoni for his leadership. He said Dhoni could turn an average team into winners. He also admired the 44-year-old for handling pressure in finals and getting the best performance from his players. Notably, Dhoni led India to victories in the 2007 T20 World Cup, the 2011 ODI World Cup, and the 2013 Champions Trophy.

Sanjay Manjrekar said on his YouTube channel:

“And I think he was different when it came to performing on the big stage. He played the final just like he would play an earlier league match. The pressure in big finals affects many players and some captains too. MS was different in that way,” he added.

Apart from international cricket, Dhoni also led Chennai Super Kings (CSK) to five IPL trophies.

Also Read -"I Even Said I'll Play Ahead of Muralitharan" – R Ashwin Makes Bold Claim After IPL Retirement

Manjrekar on Virat Kohli’s Mentality

Manjrekar also praised former India captain Virat Kohli for his performance during the 2014 Australia tour. He called Kohli a ‘mentality monster’ and credited him for scoring four centuries in the series.

He said: “Virat Kohli, for me, is at the top. Indian cricket has had mentally strong players, like Sunil Gavaskar, Sachin Tendulkar, and Kapil Dev, but their aggression was not very visible. Virat was different. During the 2014 tour to Australia, he scored four centuries and took on Australian players both verbally and on the field. He walked the talk. It was great to see because Indian cricket didn’t have someone leading like this at that time. It reminded me of Javed Miandad from Pakistan.”

Notably, Virat Kohli had a poor 2014 England tour, scoring only 134 runs in 10 innings. But he then scored 692 runs in eight innings at an average of 86.50 during the 2014-15 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

Former India international Sanjay Manjrekar blasted BCCI for not including Shreyas Iyer in the squad for Asia Cup 2025. The raised questions about the selection process, which according to him 'make no sense.' Manjrekar, through his latest Instagram video, clearly showed his displeasure over India's Asia Cup squad. 

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the highly anticipated squad for the T20I tournament on Tuesday at their headquarters based in Mumbai. Iyer's snub from the team became a major talking point after the squad announcement. After the press conference led by chief selector Ajit Agarkar and Team India's T20I captain Surya Kumar Yadav, multiple former cricketers and cricket experts criticized the board for not naming Shreyas Iyer in the setup. 

"It’s something I’ve noticed over the years, selectors rewarding players for performances in one format by including them in another. It makes no cricketing sense. Shreyas Iyer not making this T20 squad is shocking. He worked hard after being left out earlier, came back stronger against England in ODIs, and then carried that form into the IPL," the former India international said. 

Read More: WATCH: Confident century from 21-year-old keeper-batter in Buchi Babu Tournament

Iyer became a run machine during the Champions Trophy 

After making his return with the ODI team, the middle-order batter has been in phenomenal form. Earlier this year, when India lifted the Champions Trophy, Iyer emerged as a run machine for the Men in Blue. In the tournament, he finished as the second-highest run-scorer with 243 runs in five innings. He carried the same form with the Punjab Kings during the IPL 2025 as the captain. In IPL 2025, he got 604 runs in 14 innings, including six half-centuries, at an average of 50.33 and an impressive strike rate of 175.07.

"No batter matched his consistency this season, with an average over 50, a strike rate above 170, and match-winning knocks for his team. And yet, he is left out of the very format in which he excelled," Manjrekar added. 

Right after the third day of the ongoing 4th Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy, and ahead of Day 4, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar reflected on Shubman Gill's questionable decisions in terms of utilizing the bowlers.

Manjrekar was skeptical about Gill's tactics but also felt that India is lacking in bowling depth. Before the beginning of Day 4, the former international shared a post on social media that has the caption, "Gill's hands were tied with India's lack of bowling depth." Through the discussion, Sanjay tried to maintain a balanced analysis of India's bowling on Day 3.

He said that India started the day in a very improvised manner, learning from the mistakes made on the previous day. Manjrekar was impressed to see the first 5-over spells from Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj, especially from Siraj. In the beginning of the day, India created multiple chances, but England somehow endured. After the spells of Bumrah and Siraj, Gill had to go back to Anshul Kamboj and Shardul Thakur to continue the pace tally.

Read More: [WATCH] 'MS Dhoni sees...'- GT star analyzes former India captain's leadership knowledge

Why not Sundar when Stokes was struggling?

From there, India's lack of depth in bowling was exposed, felt Manjrekar. Then he was also questioned about underutilizing Washington Sundar. Who bowled brilliantly in the previous match at Lord's, and when he came to bowl at Old Trafford, Sundar made a quick impact. He quickly took away the wickets of Ollie Pope and Harry Brook. Surprisingly, when there were some hints of turn on the surface, Gill took the new ball and went back to his pace bowlers. Ben Stokes was then struggling on the crease and widely known for his weakness against spinners.

Manjrekar: Gill's hands were tied with India's lack of bowling depth https://t.co/5BCn9cIoga

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) July 26, 2025

Pointing out that situation, Sanjay raised the question: when Stokes was vulnerable, why did Gill not continue with Sundar? Along with the bowling depth, Sanjay's concerns about Gill's tactics are valid enough. 

Former Indian cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar observed that dropping Sai Sudharsan after just one Test match significantly impacted the young batter's confidence. According to Manjrekar, the early phase of Sudharsan’s innings in the Manchester Test against England reflected his shaken mindset. He highlighted Sudharsan’s hesitation, particularly when facing deliveries outside the off stump, as a visible sign of uncertainty. Manjrekar noted that the pressure of making a comeback after being benched might have weighed heavily on the left-hander, disrupting his usual flow and rhythm at the crease.

Manjrekar further explained that Sudharsan’s approach in the second Test appeared to be more about survival than scoring runs. The youngster’s cautious gameplay, he felt, stemmed from a fear of failure triggered by his exclusion after a low-scoring debut at Headingley. According to Manjrekar, such psychological pressure often alters a player's instincts, making them overly defensive. He believes that this mindset needs to shift if Sudharsan is to thrive at the highest level.

See Also: [WATCH] ENG vs IND 4th: Yashasvi Jaiswal outsmarted against England spinner Liam Dawson's sharp delivery

“Just going to focus on Sai Sudharsan here, it's a story in itself. Now he's come into bat, again, made a comeback into the playing XI, but I'm seeing some nerves here, the way he is batting. He's come with this pre-conceived mindset that he's going to leave everything outside off, which is not a bad thing to happen, but there were a couple of very over-pitched deliveries and some very close to the stumps that he left alone,” Manjrekar told on air via JioHotstar.

Just one Test match, dropped - would not have helped his confidence: Sanjay Manjrekar

Former India and Mumbai batter opined that Sai Sudharsan appeared noticeably more tense while batting in the ongoing Test compared to his debut outing in the first match. Walking in at No. 3 after KL Rahul’s dismissal in the 31st over, Sudharsan initially looked indecisive but gradually settled in and went on to score his maiden Test fifty. He was eventually dismissed for 61 off 151 deliveries during the final session. At Stumps on Day 1, India stood at 264/4 in 83 overs, with Sudharsan emerging as the team’s top scorer.

“And I really think when you have a young player to deal with, these are things you've got to be mindful of. They come with a very fragile kind of confidence. Just one Test match, dropped - would not have helped his confidence. He's come back into this Test and looking really nervous, much more than he did in his debut Test match I think,” added Manjrekar.

Sanjay Manjrekar has named his preferred India playing XI for the crucial fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy, with the visitors trailing 1-2 in the five-match series. In a must-win situation for India, Manjrekar left out Karun Nair, who returned to the Test side after eight years. Despite showing glimpses of form, Karun has failed to capitalize, scoring just 131 runs across six innings at an average of 21.83. Manjrekar suggested that the team should give another chance to Sai Sudharsan, who impressed during his debut but was dropped after the first Test.

Manjrekar also made a notable change in the wicketkeeping department, naming Dhruv Jurel as the primary wicketkeeper and shifting Rishabh Pant to a pure batting role. Pant suffered a finger injury during the first innings of the third Test, raising questions over his fitness behind the stumps. The commentator released his selections virtually, via an Instagram video, claiming it was time to take a fresh look. His selections achieved a blend of youth and experience, while India attempts to fight back in the series. His selections also place an emphasis on making the right tactical decisions to combat England's ability in that the fourth test is simply a combat test, or better still, do or die way.

Also Read: 3 reasons why India must play Anshul Kamboj in ENG vs IND 2025 4th Test at Manchester

Sanjay Manjrekar's India XI: Yashasvi Jaiswal, KL Rahul, Sai Sudharsan, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant, Dhruv Jurel, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Prasidh Krishna/Harshit Rana/Anshul Kamboj

Bumrah to play 4th Test against England

India pacer Mohammed Siraj has confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah will return to the playing XI for the fourth Test against England at Old Trafford, Manchester, beginning Wednesday, July 23. India, currently trailing 2-1 in the five-match series, had rested Bumrah for the third Test in Birmingham as part of workload management. Prior to the tour, team management had stated that Bumrah would play only three of the five Tests. Speaking at a press conference on July 21, Siraj affirmed Bumrah’s availability, adding a major boost to India’s pace attack for the must-win encounter.

"Jassi bhai toh khelenge. [Jassi bhai will play] as far as I know [smiles]," the ace India pacer said during a press conference ahead of the 4th Test at Old Trafford.