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Manjrekar Accused Of Mumbai Lobbying After Contrasting Takes On Rohit And Kohli's Woes

Sanjay Manjrekar accused of bias for defending Rohit Sharma & criticizing Virat Kohli [Source: @chinmayshah28, @TheBarmyArmy/x.com]Sanjay Manjrekar accused of bias for defending Rohit Sharma & criticizing Virat Kohli [Source: @chinmayshah28, @TheBarmyArmy/x.com]

In a rare and shocking collapse at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, India was bundled out for just 46 in the first innings of the Bengaluru Test against New Zealand. Rohit Sharma, the Indian skipper, admitted his misjudgment of the pitch conditions and took full ownership of his decision to bat first on a seaming wicket.

Mumbai Lobbying Allegations Stir as Manjrekar Lauds Rohit’s Blunder, Criticizes Kohli’s Play

“I didn’t read the pitch enough and we sit in that situation today,” said Rohit with brutal honesty.

While India’s decision to bat on what turned out to be a bowler’s paradise left fans and critics bewildered, one voice stood out in its appreciation for Rohit Sharma’s candidness—Sanjay Manjrekar.

The former cricketer took to social media platform X, applauding Rohit’s “big-heartedness” in accepting his mistake, calling him a “top man” for not shifting the blame.

However, this praise, when juxtaposed with Manjrekar’s critique of Virat Kohli’s technique, has sparked a conversation around his apparent bias towards Mumbai-based cricketers like Rohit Sharma.

While Manjrekar was quick to applaud Rohit’s willingness to shoulder responsibility, his critique of Virat Kohli's approach with the bat was far less forgiving after he was dismissed for a duck. Following India’s dismal performance, Manjrekar pointed out a perceived flaw in Kohli’s technique.


Manjrekar’s comment was swift and to the point, highlighting Kohli’s front-foot-heavy technique, which he believes has contributed to the batter’s struggles. This observation is not new; Manjrekar has expressed similar concerns about Kohli’s approach in the past.

However, his willingness to praise Rohit for his leadership failure while critiquing Kohli’s technical choices has led to discussions about whether the Mumbai-born analyst is playing favourites.

Manjrekar’s Mumbai Bias Under the Microscope

Sanjay Manjrekar’s history of being soft on Mumbai-based cricketers is no secret, and this incident has only added fuel to the fire. His recent comments have once again brought his Mumbai bias into the limelight. Many believe that Manjrekar’s loyalty to his Mumbai roots is clouding his judgment.

While Rohit’s decision to bat first on a visibly green pitch was a tactical blunder, Manjrekar chose to highlight his honesty rather than the poor call.

On the other hand, Kohli’s continued determination to play on the front foot was critiqued. One can’t help but wonder: would Manjrekar’s tone have been different if Kohli were a product of Mumbai’s cricketing system?

Despite India’s catastrophic collapse, Rohit’s leadership style earned him a pat on the back from Manjrekar. Yet, Kohli—arguably one of India’s greatest-ever batsmen—was left to bear the brunt of the critique.

At the end of the day, cricket is a game of fine margins, and both Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have had their fair share of successes and failures. However, when a former cricketer like Sanjay Manjrekar consistently praises one while criticizing the other, it creates a narrative that seems driven more by regional loyalty than objective analysis.