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.

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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.

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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. 

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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.

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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.

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“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.

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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.

Former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar shared his thoughts ahead of the fourth Test between India and England at Old Trafford. He expressed surprise at the idea of resting Jasprit Bumrah for this crucial match.

According to Manjrekar, it wouldn’t make much sense for India to bench Bumrah for the fourth Test, only to bring him back for the final one if the team loses in Manchester. He believes that with the series on the line, India must field their best XI, especially when a bowler like Bumrah is in top form.

Manjrekar emphasized that India cannot afford to take chances at this stage. He insisted that if Bumrah is fit, he must play, as a loss in this match would take the series out of India's control. His presence could be vital in keeping India's hopes alive in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy.

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Former Indian Player’s Remark on Jasprit Bumrah:

England secured a 22-run win over India in the third Test at Lord’s, gaining a 2-1 advantage in the five-match series. With the fourth Test set to begin on July 23 in Manchester, India must win to keep their hopes of a series victory alive. Jasprit Bumrah was seen in action in the opening Test in Leeds, was rested for the second one in Birmingham, and returned for the Lord’s match.

Speaking on ESPNcricinfo, Sanjay Manjrekar talked about the importance of Bumrah’s presence in the upcoming Test. He noted that the long break between the third and fourth matches should give Bumrah enough time to recover and be fully fit for the Manchester Test.

He said, "There is no point in resting for this one and then losing the series and coming in for the final one. Plus, the ideal gap too. The first Test match, when he bowled in the second innings, he looked a little jaded and flat. You felt that he's feeling the load. Here [at Lord's], he was very keen to bowl that final spell as well. He bowled a slightly longer spell because he knew there was a big gap. The first time I was surprised when he didn't play the second Test, but this one, I'll be shocked if he doesn't play.”

Jasprit Bumrah is currently the second-highest wicket-taker in the India vs England Test series. Across two matches, He has taken 12 wickets. The Indian speedster delivered standout performances with two five-wicket hauls—one in the inaugural Test at Leeds and another in the first innings at Lord’s—showcasing his consistent impact with the ball in the ongoing series.

The former Indian top-order batter, Sanjay Manjrekar, has made his choice for the new number three of the Indian batting line-up for the upcoming fourth Test of the five-match series at Old Trafford in Manchester. The tourists are behind in the series, at the moment, by a margin of 2-1 after their 22-run defeat at Lord’s during the third fixture.

Manjrekar addressed that the left-handed batter, Sai Sudharsan, would be the best choice at number three for the Manchester game after the Tamil Nadu batter smashed 30 runs in the second innings of the opening Leeds Test. The Indian management decided to leave him out and use Karun Nair at number three after giving a promotion in the lower order.

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‘Sai Sudharsan was always number three. After the first Test, there was some promise with 30 runs, and when you have flat pitches and one of England’s weakest bowling attacks, you want to play your young players. So Karun Nair at number I didn’t agree with.’ Sanjay Manjrekar expressed in a recent interaction on ESPNcricinfo that he felt it would have been the best plan to give chances to the young players.

 Watch: Sanjay Manjrekar picks India’s number three for ENG vs IND Manchester Test

‘Maybe the team management might just want to prove a point by saying that we keep backing the right horse and give him one more match. That’s something that happens with captains and team management. But I would like to see Sai Sudharsan at number three.’ The former Mumbai batter explained in the same discussion.

Sanjay Manjrekar would like to see India give Sai Sudharsan another go for the Manchester Test. Thoughts? #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/V3Ewf9kuLy

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 20, 2025

Sudharsan seemed to have a definite issue on the leg side as Ben Stokes used a fine plan to trap the southpaw batter. The 23-year-old has smashed 1987 runs in 51 innings at an average of below 39 and a strike rate of nearly 55, thanks to seven centuries and five half-centuries at the best score of 213 runs.

However, the Vidarbha batter, Karun Nair, could collect only 111 runs in four innings at an average of under 28. With the visiting side behind in the series, the management may take a bold decision to either use Sudharsan at number three for Manchester or have Washington Sundar at this position. But Manjrekar wants the former.

The former Indian batter, Sanjay Manjrekar, has raised questions over the current captain, Shubman Gill, for the latter’s heated exchange on the third evening session of the third Test against England at Lord’s 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 Lord’s.

In the third game, Gill 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 Bumrah’s opening over of the third innings. Manjrekar has compared Gill with the former captain, Virat Kohli, who used to get better after sledging.

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‘The 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 that's why I was wondering, where is Shubman Gill heading? - because that seemed like it didn't have the right effect on Shubman Gill, the batter.’ Manjrekar expressed during a recent video posted by ESPNcricinfo.

Sanjay Manjrekar questions Shubman Gill’s sledging for defeat at Lord’s

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.

Is Gill better off without the Kohli 😡 ?

Sanjay Manjrekar shares his thoughts on #MatchDay pic.twitter.com/RHTzlXr5K6

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) July 18, 2025

‘If Shubman Gill had that kind of a fiery side to him, we would have seen it a little earlier. You don't have to show it when you're the captain. Or did he show it because he's got this confidence now that he's won a Test match and scored so many runs? "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.’ The former Mumbai batter has addressed.

India now goes to Manchester with a 2-1 deficit in the series. It’s a ground where the visiting side is yet to win a Test match in nine attempts, with four defeats.

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. 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.

Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar weighed in on the aftermath, particularly focusing on young wicketkeeper Dhruv Jurel, who came in as a stand-in for the injured Rishabh Pant. 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? 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.

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. Sundar, who eventually ended with four wickets in that inning, was introduced late into the attack, something Manjrekar termed as a tactical misstep.

‘Champion ’Cricketer’—Praise for Ben Stokes

Manjrekar also heaped praise on England captain Ben Stokes for his game awareness and impact throughout the Test match. 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. 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.

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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.