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        <title>Sanjay Manjrekar</title>
        <link>https://www.cricketwinner.com</link>
        <description>Sanjay Manjrekar</description>
        <lastBuildDate>Sun, 20 Jul 2025 00:03:42 GMT</lastBuildDate>
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            <title><![CDATA[[WATCH] Sanjay Manjrekar questions Shubman Gill's on-field spat before ENG vs IND 4th Test in Manchester]]></title>
            <link>https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/watch-sanjay-manjrekar-questions-shubman-gill-s-on-field-spat-before-eng-vs-ind-4th-test-in-manchester/</link>
            <guid>https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/watch-sanjay-manjrekar-questions-shubman-gill-s-on-field-spat-before-eng-vs-ind-4th-test-in-manchester/</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2025 14:35:55 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Watch Sanjay Manjrekar questions Shubman Gill's on-field spat before ENG vs IND 4th Test in Manchester. ]]></description>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://media.cricketwinner.com/media/2025/07/MixCollage-18-Jul-2025-02-34-PM-5918.webp" width="1280" height="720" alt="Sanjay Manjrekar questions Shubman Gill's sledging. "/><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The former Indian batter, <a href="https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/sanjay-manjrekar-30934" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sanjay Manjrekar</a>, has raised questions over the current captain, Shubman Gill, for the </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">latter’s</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> heated exchange on the third evening session of the third Test against England at </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Lord’s</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> as the visitors start preparation after the 22-run defeat in the fourth game at Old Trafford in Manchester. Gill, who smashed two centuries and one double century in the first two games, failed at </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Lord’s</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">. </span></p><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">In the third game, <a href="https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/watch-dinesh-karthik-dissects-why-india-lost-the-3rd-test-against-england-at-lord-s/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gill </a>managed just six runs in the second innings after the altercation. It started when the England opener, Zak Crawley, looked to waste time to avoid an extra over after Jasprit </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Bumrah’s</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> opening over of the third innings. </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Manjrekar has compared Gill with the former captain, Virat Kohli, who used to </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">get</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> better after </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">sledging</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">.</span></p><p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">See Also: <a title="BCCI President to step down from his position amid Asia Cup 2025 tensions" href="https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/bcci-president-to-step-down-from-his-position-amid-asia-cup-2025-tensions/" aria-label="BCCI President to step down from his position amid Asia Cup 2025 tensions">BCCI President to step down from his position amid Asia Cup 2025 tensions</a></span></strong></p><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">‘T</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">he thing with Virat Kohli was that he would get even more fired up and become a better batter [if things got nasty]. What disappointed me with Shubman Gill - and </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">that's</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> why I was wondering, where is Shubman Gill heading? - because that seemed like it </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">didn't</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> have the right effect on Shubman Gill, the batter.</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">’ </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Manjrekar expressed during a recent video posted by ESPNcricinfo. </span></p><h2><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Sanjay Manjrekar questions Shubman </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Gill’s</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> sledging for defeat at </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Lord’s</span> </strong></h2><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Gill arrived in London for the third game with 485 runs in his bag in the series, but the home side came out with a different plan as they stopped his usual singles and doubles to keep the scorecard moving. Jamie Smith, the wicket-keeper, walked up to the stumps to deny the right-handed batter using his feet.</span></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Is Gill better off without the Kohli 😡 ? <br><br>Sanjay Manjrekar shares his thoughts on <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MatchDay?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MatchDay</a> <a href="https://t.co/RHTzlXr5K6">pic.twitter.com/RHTzlXr5K6</a></p>— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) <a href="https://twitter.com/ESPNcricinfo/status/1946116005547377009?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 18, 2025</a></blockquote><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">‘I</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">f Shubman Gill had that kind of a fiery side to him, we would have seen it a little earlier. You </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">don't</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> have to show it when </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">you're</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> the captain. Or did he show it because </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">he's</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> got this confidence now that </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">he's</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> won a Test match and scored so many runs?</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> "</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Because with Virat Kohli, you could see he was ready for a scrap. He was always looking to get into the thick of things - even before he was captain.</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">’ </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The former Mumbai batter has addressed. </span></p><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">India now goes to Manchester with a 2-1 deficit in the series. </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">It’s</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> a ground where the visiting side is yet to win a Test match in nine attempts, with four defeats. </span></p>]]></content:encoded>
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            <title><![CDATA['Can you be too hard on Dhruv Jurel?' – Former India player massive claim after ENG vs IND 2025 3rd Test defeat]]></title>
            <link>https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/can-you-be-too-hard-on-dhruv-jurel-former-india-player-massive-claim-after-eng-vs-ind-2025-3rd-test-defeat/</link>
            <guid>https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/can-you-be-too-hard-on-dhruv-jurel-former-india-player-massive-claim-after-eng-vs-ind-2025-3rd-test-defeat/</guid>
            <pubDate>Tue, 15 Jul 2025 14:04:17 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Sanjay Manjrekar questions criticism of Dhruv Jurel and highlights tactical errors after India’s 3rd Test loss at Lord’s.]]></description>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://media.cricketwinner.com/media/2025/07/WhatsApp-Image-2025-07-15-at-13.57.45_857612c7.webp" width="640" height="397" alt="Dhruv Jurel"/><p><span id="input-sentence~0">India's 22-run defeat to England in the third Test at Lord's has generated conversations around various important events in the fixture. When chasing 193, India lost their last wicket for 170, thus giving England a vital 2-1 series lead going into the five-match series.</span><span id="input-sentence~1"> One of the talking points was the fact India conceded 32 extras when England scored their second innings total of 192 - a point of contention that transpired to be an incredibly important contribution to the final result.<br><br>Former cricketer <strong><a href="https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/sanjay-manjrekar-30934">Sanjay Manjrekar</a></strong> weighed in on the aftermath, particularly focusing on young wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, who came in as a stand-in for the injured Rishabh Pant.</span><span id="input-sentence~2"> Speaking on ESPN Cricinfo, Manjrekar questioned whether Jurel should be solely blamed for the extras, particularly byes. He also analyzed his keeping style and highlighted a trend among Indian wicketkeepers. “Can you be too hard on Dhruv Jurel (on extras), because he's come in as a stand-in keeper?</span><span id="input-sentence~3"> Like a lot of Indian keepers, he looks far more accomplished when he is keeping against spinners and when he is close to the stumps,” he said.<br><br>Manjrekar further dissected other key aspects of India’s performance. He noted the delay in bringing in off-spinner Washington Sundar during England’s second innings—a move he felt cost India vital runs.</span><span id="input-sentence~4"> Sundar, who eventually ended with four wickets in that inning, was introduced late into the attack, something Manjrekar termed as a tactical misstep.<br></span></p><h2><span id="input-sentence~4">‘Champion ’Cricketer’—Praise for Ben Stokes<br></span></h2><p><span id="input-sentence~4">Manjrekar also heaped praise on England captain Ben Stokes for his game awareness and impact throughout the Test match.</span><span id="input-sentence~5"> While Stokes didn’t register a fifty or a five-wicket haul, his influence was felt in crucial moments—be it in the field, with the ball, or through his leadership. “Guys have got hundreds and five wickets; this is a guy who didn't get a fifty or even a five-wicket haul.</span><span id="input-sentence~6"> But this is what Ben Stokes does... You look at the scorecard and wonder what his contribution is. But if you watched the game, you saw the difference that he makes,” he explained.<br></span></p><p><strong>See Also: <a href="https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/india-likely-to-drop-3-players-for-4th-test-against-england-at-old-trafford/">India likely to drop 3 players for 4th Test against England at Old Trafford</a></strong></p><p><strong><span id="input-sentence~6"></span></strong></p><p><span id="input-sentence~6">Pointing to moments such as Stokes orchestrating the dismissal of KL Rahul and managing Bashir’s extended spell despite difficult conditions, Manjrekar concluded by calling him a “champion cricketer” and credited him for turning the tide in England’s favor. Stokes finished the match with 77 runs and five wickets and deservedly claimed the Player of the Match award.</span></p>]]></content:encoded>
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            <title><![CDATA['Shubman Gill must decide...'- Sanjay Manjrekar gives stern warning to Indian captain during ENG vs IND 3rd Test at Lord's]]></title>
            <link>https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/shubman-gill-must-decide-sanjay-manjrekar-gives-stern-warning-to-indian-captain-during-eng-vs-ind-3rd-test-at-lord-s/</link>
            <guid>https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/shubman-gill-must-decide-sanjay-manjrekar-gives-stern-warning-to-indian-captain-during-eng-vs-ind-3rd-test-at-lord-s/</guid>
            <pubDate>Mon, 14 Jul 2025 12:08:44 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Sanjay Manjrekar gives stern warning to Shubman Gill during ENG vs IND 2025 3rd Test at Lord's. ]]></description>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://media.cricketwinner.com/media/2025/07/MixCollage-14-Jul-2025-11-46-AM-2557.webp" width="1280" height="720" alt="Shubman Gill and Sanjay Manjrekar. "/><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">The former Indian batter, <a href="https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/sanjay-manjrekar-30934" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sanjay Manjrekar</a>, has given a stern warning to the young touring captain, Shubman Gill, on his understanding between the two characters of Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni as he looks to put feet on a long-lasting career as the leader of the country in the longest format. </span></p><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Manjrekar feels that<a href="https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/sanjay-manjrekar-30934" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Shubman Gill</a> suddenly looked tentative on the evening session of the fourth day between England and India at </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Lord’s</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> when the England players came hard at him with a mouthful of words. The former player reminded with a warning that Virat Kohli used to perform better in those situations while MS Dhoni used to love the calmness, and it would be important for Gill to choose one of these two.</span></p><p><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">See Also: <a title="Who is Rushil Ugarkar? Know the 22-year-old who helped MI New York lift the MLC 2025" href="https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/who-is-rushil-ugarkar-know-the-22-year-old-who-helped-mi-new-york-lift-the-mlc-2025/" aria-label="Who is Rushil Ugarkar? Know the 22-year-old who helped MI New York lift the MLC 2025">Who is Rushil Ugarkar? Know the 22-year-old who helped MI New York lift the MLC 2025</a></span></strong></p><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">‘G</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">ill, suddenly looking tentative last evening, had a lot to do with the hostility he got at the crease from England. Virat performed better, the angrier he got. Dhoni is the exact opposite. Gill must decide what gets the best out of him as a batter, calmness or anger.</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">’ </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Manjrekar expressed in a post shared on his Twitter handle (formerly known as Twitter). </span></p><h2><strong><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Sanjay Manjrekar warns Shubman Gill during the ENG vs IND 2025 series </span></strong></h2><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Manjrekar’s</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> statement came after Gill looked to get out of </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">his routine</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> that he showed during the first couple of games at Leeds and Edgbaston to earn success. In the opening game at Headingley, he smashed 147 runs in the first innings. Behind </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">India’s</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> 336-run victory in Birmingham, the right-handed batter drilled 269 runs in the first innings before carrying the momentum in the second innings with a 150+ run knock.</span></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Gill suddenly looking tentative last evening had a lot to do with the hostility he got at the crease from England. Virat performed better, the angrier he got. Dhoni the exact opposite. Gill must decide what gets the best out of him as batter, calmness or anger.</p>— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) <a href="https://twitter.com/sanjaymanjrekar/status/1944618662746620074?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 14, 2025</a></blockquote><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">However, he looked completely different in the second innings of the </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Lord’s</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">. </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">On the first couple of balls, he was </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">not sure</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> how to </span><span data-preserver-spaces="true">deal with</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> the situation.</span><span data-preserver-spaces="true"> Three balls later, he smashed a fine drive against Brydon Carse through covers for a boundary. He missed a straight ball that just swung away to nearly smell the outside edge. </span></p><p><span data-preserver-spaces="true">Gill had a poor game in London, but that was enough for him to overtake Rahul Dravid as the highest run-getter for an Indian in a Test series in England. As Manjrekar suggested, it will be important for the youngster to know how to deal with the situation in Manchester and the Oval. </span></p>]]></content:encoded>
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            <title><![CDATA['Little Easier Than at Home' – Former Indian cricketer's bold remark on Ravindra Jadeja's 72 on day 3 of ENG vs IND 3rd Test 2025]]></title>
            <link>https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/little-easier-than-at-home-former-indian-cricketer-s-bold-remark-on-ravindra-jadeja-s-72-on-day-3-of-eng-vs-ind-3rd-test-2025/</link>
            <guid>https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/little-easier-than-at-home-former-indian-cricketer-s-bold-remark-on-ravindra-jadeja-s-72-on-day-3-of-eng-vs-ind-3rd-test-2025/</guid>
            <pubDate>Sun, 13 Jul 2025 12:14:16 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Sanjay Manjrekar suggests Ravindra Jadeja capitalized on less challenging England pitches to regain his Test form.]]></description>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://media.cricketwinner.com/media/2025/07/1752330085-1948.webp" width="826" height="465" alt="Ravindra Jadeja"/><p><span id="input-sentence~0">Former Indian batter <strong><a href="https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/3879/sanjay-manjrekar">Sanjay Manjrekar</a></strong> has credited Ravindra Jadeja’s superb form in the ongoing England Test series to comparatively friendlier batting conditions abroad. Jadeja played a crucial knock of 72 off 131 balls in India’s first innings of the third Test at Lord’s, helping the visitors level England’s total of 387 after finding themselves at a precarious 248/4.</span><span id="input-sentence~1"> The left-hander’s composed innings was his third successive half-century of the series, after scores of 89 and 69* in the second Test at Edgbaston.<br><br>Speaking on ESPN Cricinfo after the third day’s play, Manjrekar pointed out that Jadeja has benefitted from slightly easier surfaces than those typically seen in India.</span><span id="input-sentence~2"> He stated, “If you look at his performance just before this series, against New Zealand on turning pitches and in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, he wasn't great. So, he cashed in when the opportunity to get runs a little more easily came, when the challenge was a little easier than at home on those rank turners or against an Australian side on slightly helpful pitches.”<br><br>Manjrekar also highlighted the role of Jadeja’s experience in reviving his form after a lean 2024/25 season in Tests, during which he averaged under 26 across eight matches.</span><span id="input-sentence~3"> With the series now tied at 1-1, Jadeja has become a pivotal figure in India’s lineup, averaging 88.66 across five innings in this tour of England.<br></span></p><h2><span id="input-sentence~3">“It's Not Just About the Runs, But the Grind”<br></span></h2><p><span id="input-sentence~3">Elaborating on Jadeja’s evolution as a batter, Manjrekar praised his ability to adapt to Test match demands.</span><span id="input-sentence~4"> “It's not just about the runs, but the grind in the middle, and that's been the big change from his earlier days, where he used to come and throw his bat around to score quickly,” he noted. The former batter commended Jadeja’s temperament and his knack for handling the second new ball effectively.</span><span id="input-sentence~5"><br></span></p><p><strong>See Also: <a href="https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/watch-relive-fight-between-indian-captain-and-england-openers-during-closing-over-of-eng-vs-ind-3rd-test/">WATCH: Relive fight between Indian captain and England openers during closing over of ENG vs IND 3rd Test</a></strong></p><p><strong><span id="input-sentence~5"></span></strong></p><p><span id="input-sentence~5">He added, “The amazing thing about Jadeja is he got about 70-odd runs but batted almost four hours, and that's been the great facet about his batting performances over the years.” As Day 3 concluded at Lord’s, both teams stood evenly matched after scoring 387 in their first innings, with England reaching 2/0 in one over of their second innings.</span></p>]]></content:encoded>
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            <title><![CDATA['India would play three spinners...' - Former India player wants surprising changes in playing XI for upcoming ENG vs IND 2nd Test]]></title>
            <link>https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/india-would-play-three-spinners-former-india-player-wants-surprising-changes-in-playing-xi-for-upcoming-eng-vs-ind-2nd-test/</link>
            <guid>https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/india-would-play-three-spinners-former-india-player-wants-surprising-changes-in-playing-xi-for-upcoming-eng-vs-ind-2nd-test/</guid>
            <pubDate>Tue, 01 Jul 2025 12:17:32 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Sanjay Manjrekar urges India to consider playing multiple spinners and drop Shardul for Kuldeep in 2nd Test vs England.]]></description>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://media.cricketwinner.com/media/2025/06/india-win_1750787486-(1).webp" width="959" height="720" alt="ENG vs IND 2nd Test"/><p><span id="input-sentence~0">As India prepares for the second Test against England at Edgbaston on Wednesday, July 2, former India cricketer <strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanjay_Manjrekar">Sanjay Manjrekar</a></strong> has called for bold changes to the playing XI. One of his major suggestions is dropping Shardul Thakur and bringing back wrist-spinner Kuldeep Yadav.</span><span id="input-sentence~1"> Manjrekar believes India must shift from their usual fast-bowler-heavy setup and instead focus on quality, even if it means playing multiple spinners in English conditions.<br><br>India's batters had their moments in the first Test at Headingley, but their bowling unit couldn’t defend a sizable target of 371 runs in the fourth innings.</span><span id="input-sentence~2"> Manjrekar feels that without Mohammed Shami in the mix, India's pace attack lacks depth and consistency. He specifically called out the performances of Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, and Shardul Thakur, stating that apart from Bumrah, India doesn't have the same impact bowlers.</span><span id="input-sentence~3"><br><br>In Manjrekar’s view, India needs to make some tough selection decisions if they want to bounce back in the series. He stated clearly, “Nitish Kumar Reddy, I had included him on my side for the first Test. And Kuldeep Yadav has to come back.</span><span id="input-sentence~4"> I'm sorry to say, but Shardul Thakur has to go out.”<br></span></p><h3><span id="input-sentence~4">Manjrekar Advocates Spin-Focused Strategy Despite English Conditions<br></span></h3><p><span id="input-sentence~4">Manjrekar emphasized the importance of picking the best bowlers, regardless of surface or location. “India will have to make a hard call that even in English conditions, they go with quality bowlers, and if the quality bowlers happen to be two spinners, go for it because you don't quite have the luxury of a Shami and some of the other bowlers to pick from.” He also mentioned the increasingly dry nature of English pitches due to global warming, which could support spin.</span><span id="input-sentence~5"><br></span></p><p><strong>See Also: <a href="https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/watch-shreyas-iyer-gets-clean-bowled-by-his-mother-in-playful-living-room-face-off/">WATCH: Shreyas Iyer gets ‘Clean Bowled’ by his mother in playful living room face-off</a></strong></p><p><strong><span id="input-sentence~5"></span></strong></p><p><span id="input-sentence~5">“English summers these days are generally dry summers because of global warming. So you know, maybe it’s a way to introduce spin in England. And let’s not forget, Ben Stokes has completely changed his thinking and made it common-sense cricket thinking,” Manjrekar added.</span><span id="input-sentence~6"><br><br>Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah's availability remains uncertain for the Edgbaston Test. While he was the standout performer in the first Test with a five-wicket haul, team management is cautious due to the tight schedule. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate noted, “He’s available for the game, but we haven’t made a final call yet. It will depend on conditions and how we plan for the rest of the series.” With India trailing 0-1, the second Test is crucial in the context of the five-match series.</span></p>]]></content:encoded>
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            <title><![CDATA['Kohli Would Not Have Such Defensive Field' – Sanjay Manjrekar on Shubman Gill's captaincy after loss against England in 1st Test]]></title>
            <link>https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/kohli-would-not-have-such-defensive-field-sanjay-manjrekar-on-shubman-gill-s-captaincy-after-loss-against-england-in-1st-test/</link>
            <guid>https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/kohli-would-not-have-such-defensive-field-sanjay-manjrekar-on-shubman-gill-s-captaincy-after-loss-against-england-in-1st-test/</guid>
            <pubDate>Sat, 28 Jun 2025 23:16:07 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Sanjay Manjrekar critiqued Shubman Gill's defensive captaincy in the first Test loss to England, contrasting it with Virat Kohli’s aggressive style.









]]></description>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://media.cricketwinner.com/media/2025/06/GujBjdybUAAaNvZ.webp" width="843" height="527" alt="Shubman Gill"/><p><span id="input-sentence~0">Shubman Gill’s first Test match as captaincy debut didn’t unfold as he might have envisioned, as India lost to England by five wickets in the first Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Headingley, Leeds. Gill came under some criticism for his management, particularly with regard to his fielding and tactics when decisions mattered.</span><span id="input-sentence~1"><br><br>Former India cricketer<strong><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanjay_Manjrekar"> Sanjay Manjrekar</a></strong> weighed in on Gill’s leadership, suggesting that the young captain’s field strategy leaned too much on the defensive side. “Most people felt Shubman Gill went too defensive. But I think he was trying to trap England by cutting off boundaries, hoping the wickets would come eventually,” Manjrekar explained during his analysis on JioHotstar following the match.</span><span id="input-sentence~2"><br><br>Manjrekar also compared Gill’s captaincy to that of Virat Kohli, India's most successful Test leader. “I hate to bring Virat Kohli as a comparison, as Shubman Gill is a young captain, but he would not have put such a defensive field.</span><span id="input-sentence~3"> That's different from someone like Virat Kohli, who might say, We have enough runs; I'll get you all out before Tea. Whether he would have gotten wickets with an attacking field is not guaranteed, but he would have been at it,” he said.</span><span id="input-sentence~4"><br></span></p><h3><span id="input-sentence~4">‘Start With Attacking Intent, Then Go Defensive’<br></span></h3><p><span id="input-sentence~4">The former batter acknowledged that England’s bowling unit had more all-round options and depth but still felt India could have started more aggressively. “Gill doesn't have the same seam attack as England—though they don't have Bumrah—but the English team has more all-round options.</span><span id="input-sentence~5"> Even with Jadeja, I felt India should've started with a standard field rather than pre-empting reverse sweeps,” he said.<br></span></p><p><strong>See Also: <a href="https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/i-want-to-make-you-a-bollywood-hero-former-india-opener-recalls-first-meeting-with-ms-dhoni/">'I Want to Make You a Bollywood Hero' – Former India opener recalls first meeting with MS Dhoni</a></strong></p><p><strong><span id="input-sentence~5"></span></strong></p><p><span id="input-sentence~5">Still, Manjrekar was careful not to be too harsh on the young leader. “You want to start with attacking intent—even if only for a few overs—before going defensive. That said, I don't want to be overly critical of Shubman. He's a new captain, and we should be understanding of that,” he concluded.</span></p>]]></content:encoded>
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            <title><![CDATA['Kohli would not have such defensive field' - Sanjay Manjrekar on Shubman Gill's captaincy after Headingley defeat]]></title>
            <link>https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/kohli-would-not-have-such-defensive-field-sanjay-manjrekar-on-shubman-gill-s-captaincy-after-headingley-defeat/</link>
            <guid>https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/kohli-would-not-have-such-defensive-field-sanjay-manjrekar-on-shubman-gill-s-captaincy-after-headingley-defeat/</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 27 Jun 2025 13:55:49 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Former India cricketer, now a commentator and a cricket expert, Sanjay Manjrekar analyzed Shubman Gill's captaincy in a critical manner. He compared India's new Test skipper's leadership methods with the former Virat Kohli's.]]></description>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://media.cricketwinner.com/media/2025/06/Indian-cricket-team.webp" width="1200" height="800" alt="Indian-cricket-team.webp"/><p>Former <a href="https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/mohammed-shami-gives-strong-message-to-indian-bowlers-after-loss-in-1st-test-at-headingley/">India</a> cricketer, now a commentator and a cricket expert, Sanjay Manjrekar analyzed <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shubman_Gill&ved=2ahUKEwjRvIbIlpGOAxWR8DQHHf-XNtkQmhN6BAgUEAo&sqi=2&usg=AOvVaw1aaqmC2nKb4ctV3xndb4A7">Shubman Gill</a>'s captaincy in a critical manner. He compared India's new Test skipper's leadership methods with the former Virat Kohli's. After a thorough scrutiny, Manjrekar explained that the 25-year-old placed his fielders in the defensive approach in the Headingley Test, where England won by 5 wickets, chasing 371 runs. The former cricketer suggested Gill think in a more attacking way before taking guard to defend. In Headingley, the team India captain perhaps wanted to prevent the big shots—the boundaries—to restrict England's run rate and put the batters under pressure, Manjrekar shared his views. </p><p>"Most people felt Shubman Gill went too defensive. But I think he was trying to trap England by cutting off boundaries, hoping the wickets would come eventually," Sanjay added. </p><p>"I hate to bring Virat Kohli as a comparison, as Shubman Gill is a young captain, but he would not have put such a defensive field. That's different from someone like Virat Kohli, who might say, We have enough runs; I'll get you all out before tea. Whether he would have gotten wickets with an attacking field is not guaranteed, but he would have been at it." </p><p><strong>Read More:</strong> <a href="https://www.cricketwinner.com/fantasy-cricket-tips/emp-vs-vvp-dream11-prediction-today-match-21-ecs-t10-finland-2025/">EMP vs VVP Dream11 Prediction Today Match 21 ECS T10 Finland, 2025</a></p><h3>Cricket expert asked to take more intense approach</h3><p>England won the first of the five-match Test series by chasing a 371-run target. On the 5th day, the host team hunts 350 runs for the victory lap. Ben Duckett was in the lead role with his vast range of strokes. Against the Indian bowling attack, he used the reverse sweep as one of his prime counterattacking shots. Later, England captain Ben Stokes also tried to do the same. </p><p>Manjrekar, in his explanation, also highlighted England's style of gameplay to show how Gill could oppose their tactics. He said, "I felt India should've started with a standard field rather than pre-empting reverse sweeps. You want to start with attacking intent—even if only for a few overs—before going defensive. That said, I don't want to be overly critical of Shubman. He's a new captain, and we should be understanding of that."</p>]]></content:encoded>
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            <title><![CDATA[WATCH: Sanjay Manjrekar takes cheeky dig at Virat Kohli in ongoing first Test between England and India]]></title>
            <link>https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/sanjay-manjrekar-takes-cheeky-dig-at-virat-kohli-in-ongoing-first-test-between-england-and-india/</link>
            <guid>https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/sanjay-manjrekar-takes-cheeky-dig-at-virat-kohli-in-ongoing-first-test-between-england-and-india/</guid>
            <pubDate>Fri, 20 Jun 2025 19:48:41 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Out of the syllabus comments on air from Sanjay Manjrekar. Without mentioning anyone's name, he took a cheeky dig at Virat Kohli while KL Rahul was batting at Headingley, Leeds. Cricket fans were amazed to hear such remarks from an eminent cricket expert and commentator. ]]></description>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://media.cricketwinner.com/media/2025/06/Screenshot_2025_0620_191642.webp" width="631" height="351" alt="KL Rahul"/><p>Out of the syllabus comments on air from <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanjay_Manjrekar&ved=2ahUKEwitw7TFmICOAxWijGMGHTZZFc8QmhN6BAgTEAo&sqi=2&usg=AOvVaw3lwHwQ3w9htrUJ_q69s_CI">Sanjay Manjrekar</a>. Without mentioning anyone's name, he took a cheeky dig at Virat Kohli while <a href="https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/kl-rahul-eye-catching-cover-drive-against-chris-woakes-in-first-test-match-between-england-and-india/">KL Rahul</a> was batting at Headingley, Leeds. Cricket fans were amazed to hear such remarks from an eminent cricket expert and commentator. </p><p>KL Rahul, on Day 1 of the first Test against England, played a well-rehearsed 42-run innings. During this time, he swung his bat for 8 boundaries. Audiences at the stadium and viewers on screen thoroughly enjoyed the innings played by the right-handed batter who came to the ground as an opener, pairing with Yashasvi Jaiswal—a left- and right-hand combination. </p><p>Rahul, during his 42-run innings, played some good-looking shots straight out of the copybook, especially those cover drives—purely eye-shooting. With a cool head and enough patience, he created the Innings. Before the dismissal, KL showed his judgment skills as well. He left some balls pitched wide. That impressed the former Indian cricketer, now a cricket expert and commentator, Sanjay Manjrekar. Which went viral on the internet. </p><p><strong>Read More</strong>: <a href="https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/cheteshwar-pujara-gets-michael-vaughan-s-autograph-on-his-infamous-4-0-prediction/">Cheteshwar Pujara gets Michael Vaughan’s autograph on his infamous 4-0 prediction</a></p><h3>Watch the viral video with the commentary here</h3><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-dnt="true"><p dir="ltr" lang="en">Listen to this 😭😭<a href="https://t.co/JojgBrPNzQ">pic.twitter.com/JojgBrPNzQ</a> <a href="https://t.co/0OMt0M7tVu">https://t.co/0OMt0M7tVu</a></p>— Bakri Player (@91_of_79) <a href="https://twitter.com/91_of_79/status/1936027028731682818?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 20, 2025</a></blockquote><p>During his commentary duties, he said, "We know a former batter who would have gone after it and gotten himself into trouble, but not these two." </p><p>But the sarcastic part is that KL Rahul also caught out the way Manjrekar talked about it. The 33-year-old versatile batter, oozing with confidence, went to play another cover drive on England pacer Brydon Carse's delivery pitched well outside the off stump. Rahul could have easily left the ball, but he chose to attack and misjudged, which cost Team India the first dismissal of the contest. </p><p> </p>]]></content:encoded>
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            <title><![CDATA['He did not conform to behaving ‘correctly’' - Sanjay Manjrekar drops revelation after Virat Kohli's retirement]]></title>
            <link>https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/he-did-not-conform-to-behaving-correctly-sanjay-manjrekar-drops-revelation-after-virat-kohli-s-retirement/</link>
            <guid>https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/he-did-not-conform-to-behaving-correctly-sanjay-manjrekar-drops-revelation-after-virat-kohli-s-retirement/</guid>
            <pubDate>Tue, 13 May 2025 14:46:34 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Sanjay Manjrekar, former Indian cricketer and now cricket commentator, explained the characteristics of Virat Kohli in a new dimension. Kohli, who announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 12 through a social media post, played cricket's longest format for almost 14 years.]]></description>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://media.cricketwinner.com/media/2025/05/IMG_20250513_144539.webp" width="1500" height="843" alt="Sanjay Manjrekar on Virat Kohli "/><p>Sanjay Manjrekar, former Indian cricketer and now cricket commentator, explained the characteristics of <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/virat-kohli-253802&ved=2ahUKEwiSpsnKjaCNAxWS8TgGHT1CHm0QFnoFCI0BEAE&sqi=2&usg=AOvVaw1vFXM_XXgBXo_p2NevopSI">Virat Kohli</a> in a new dimension. Kohli, who announced his retirement from Test cricket on May 12 through a social media post, played cricket's longest format for almost 14 years.</p><p>The Delhi-born batter made his debut in 2011 and announced his retirement in 2025. Along with his charismatic batting skills, he took the center of the stage for not behaving according to regulations. Despite spending so many years for India, people still criticized Kohli's on-field behavior.</p><p>Sanjay Manjrekar focused on that particular point of Kohli's career. According to him, the star Indian batter had broken all the blockades to take himself to another level, where only performance will speak. In the era of T20 cricket, Test cricket became less attractive for a part of cricket-loving fans.</p><p><strong>Read More</strong>: <a href="https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/ishowspeed-s-unexpected-reaction-to-virat-kohli-s-test-retirement/">Watch: IShowSpeed’s unexpected reaction to Virat Kohli’s Test retirement</a></p><p>Virat, who displayed his talent in all three formats, urged young players and people to engage with the traditional format too. The batter who played the cover drive like a stroke on the canvas had played 123 matches and finished with 9230 runs at an average of 46.85, including 30 centuries. The star cricketer smashed the most double centuries in Tests among the Indian batters.</p><h3>Virat Kohli: A modern day hero</h3><p>"In every way he was a modern-day hero, a role model for young athletes with his six-pack abs, his tattoos, and his style of playing cricket. He did not conform to behaving ‘correctly’ on the field... he was there to win, and he wasn’t going to let convention get in the way. But he worshipped Test cricket," Sanjay expressed himself in a recently published article. </p><p>"And for a while when Test cricket was really struggling (and will continue to do so) as a format, Virat invested much in it, showing that his heart was in the right place. He is a very rich sportsman, but until the very end, he gave his all to Test cricket, the most non-lucrative form of the game." </p>]]></content:encoded>
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            <title><![CDATA[IPL 2025: Sanjay Manjrekar laughs off Glenn Maxwell's batting]]></title>
            <link>https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/ipl-2025-sanjay-manjrekar-laughs-off-glenn-maxwell-s-batting/</link>
            <guid>https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/ipl-2025-sanjay-manjrekar-laughs-off-glenn-maxwell-s-batting/</guid>
            <pubDate>Sun, 06 Apr 2025 15:27:45 GMT</pubDate>
            <description><![CDATA[Sanjay Manjrekar took a dig at Glenn Maxwell’s inconsistency during the IPL 2025 match between PBKS and RR. Comparing his rare good innings to Halley’s Comet, the comment sparked mixed reactions among fans.]]></description>
            <content:encoded><![CDATA[<img src="https://media.cricketwinner.com/media/2025/04/dhqiqq;2.webp" width="772" height="482" alt="IPL 2025: Sanjay Manjrekar laughs off Glenn Maxwell's batting"/><p><span id="input-sentence~0"><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glenn_Maxwell">Glenn Maxwell'</a>s on-and-off performance in the IPL has again raised eyebrows, but this time in a quite lighter manner. While commenting on the IPL 2025 match between Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Punjab Kings (PBKS), celebrated commentator and ex-Indian cricketer <a href="https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/sanjay-manjrekar-30934">Sanjay Manjrekar</a> took a risk.</span><span id="input-sentence~1"> While commentating on the JioHotstar panel, he light-heartedly referred to Maxwell as the "Halley's Comet of cricket."<br><br>Manjrekar justified his statement by drawing a parallel between Maxwell's occasional great performances and the occasional sighting of Halley's Comet. He said that Halley's Comet was last visible in 1986 and would be seen again in 2061  nearly 75 years later.</span><span id="input-sentence~2"> He added that Maxwell's effective innings also feel as rare, appearing occasionally, but not frequently enough to have a lasting impact.<br><br>This sarcastic yet humorous remark received contrasting responses from Twitter users. While some were of the same view as Manjrekar, stating that Maxwell has repeatedly disappointed his sides although he has skill, others called it harsh, commenting that Maxwell has performed miraculously and needs to be credited for his endeavor, particularly at international level.</span></p><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p dir="ltr" lang="en"> makes a bold statement about Glenn Maxwell with an astronomy reference.🛰️📻 <a href="https://t.co/7m4CRFX4KV">pic.twitter.com/7m4CRFX4KV</a></p>— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) <a href="https://twitter.com/Cricketracker/status/1908569056094957897?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 5, 2025</a></blockquote><p>ALLSO READ:<a href="https://www.cricketwinner.com/cricket-news/ipl-2025-mi-vs-rcb-player-battles-to-watch-out/">IPL 2025 MI vs RCB : Player battles to watch out</a></p><h3><span id="input-sentence~0">Mixed Reactions and Maxwell's Struggles in IPL</span></h3><p><span id="input-sentence~0">Glenn Maxwell hasn't had a good time in IPL 2025 either. During PBKS's first match against Gujarat Titans, he was dismissed on the first ball  a golden duck  which was his 19th duck in IPL history.</span><span id="input-sentence~1"> That makes him the record holder for the most ducks in the tournament.<br><br>Maxwell has produced sparks in other competitions, such as the Big Bash, but his IPL career has been a rollercoaster. Sanjay Manjrekar's Halley's Comet analogy might have been intended humorously, yet it is also reflective of the exasperation so many fans feel at not witnessing Maxwell deliver on a regular basis in the world's largest T20 competition.</span></p><p> </p>]]></content:encoded>
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