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'Put India In Tight...' - Manjrekar Refuels Virat Kohli's Strike Rate Debate For 59-Ball 76 In Final

Sanjay Manjrekar said Kohli should not have won the Man of the Match award in WC 2024 Final (X.com)Sanjay Manjrekar said Kohli should not have won the Man of the Match award in WC 2024 Final (X.com)

For some reason, Sanjay Manjrekar has always been a constant critic of Virat Kohli. There is a fresh subject in town, as Manjrekar doesn’t believe Kohli should have won the Man of the Match award in the T20 World Cup 2024 finale against South Africa in Barbados.

Laced with six fours and two sixes, Kohli made 76 runs off 59 balls at a strike rate of 128.81. Manjrekar, without noticing the fact that India lost three wickets inside the first five overs of the innings,  felt it was slow, and 'put India in a tight corner.'

In fact, Manjrekar mentioned that Kohli's knock did not allow 'devastating' Hardik Pandya to play more balls.

Sanjay Manjrekar Attacks Virat Kohli Again

"By playing that innings, Hardik Pandya, one of their most devastating batters, had just two balls to face. So I thought India's batting was good, but Virat Kohli had potentially played an innings that would've put India in a tight corner. And it almost proved to be that, before these guys' bowlers came in the end," Manjrekar told  ESPNCricinfo.

Further, Manjrekar added that the Player of the Match award should have been given to a bowler instead of Kohli, who 'took the game from the jaws of defeat' due to Kohli.

"India were in a losing position, 90 percent winning chances (for South Africa). The complete turnaround actually saved Virat Kohli's innings because he played virtually half the innings with a strike-rate of 128. My Player of the Match would've been a bowler because they actually took the game from the jaws of defeat and won it for India," he added.


The Men in Blue, with T20 World Cup title, meanwhile, will reach India on Wednesday. They became the first unbeaten side to lift the title in this format.