NEW DELHI: Day 1 of the India vs England Test at Headingley was all about Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill’s brilliance with the bat, but it also included a moment that stirred up fans online, a veiled dig at Virat Kohli by former cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar.While praising KL Rahul and Jaiswal’s shot selection and patience outside the off-stump, Manjrekar made a seemingly innocuous remark that quickly turned viral. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“So a lot of what you’re seeing is being created by these two batters. And my hat, there’s another example of it we know of. A former batter would have gone after that delivery and got himself into trouble, but not these two. And that’s why I believe,” he said on-air.Social media users were quick to interpret the comment as a swipe at Virat Kohli, who has often struggled with off-stump discipline in recent years, especially during the India-Australia Tests. Kohli’s tendency to chase deliveries outside off has been a known weakness, and it appears Manjrekar subtly referenced that pattern.The comment comes just weeks after Kohli announced his retirement from Test cricket in May, ending a 14-year-long red-ball career that saw him score 9,230 runs in 123 matches, including 27 centuries. Despite his achievements, Kohli’s final phase in Tests was marked by a string of dismissals edging to the slips.
Meanwhile, on the field, India’s new-look batting order flourished. Gill, in his debut match as Test captain, led from the front with a composed 127 not out and joined legends like Gavaskar and Kohli in scoring a century in his first Test as skipper. Jaiswal’s fluent 101 further solidified India’s dominant position, with the team finishing at a commanding 359/3.Though Kohli may have exited the Test scene, his presence and criticism continues to echo, even subtly, in commentary boxes. Manjrekar’s remark may not have named him, but fans heard it loud and clear.
