3 Reasons why Sanjay Manjrekar was axed by BCCI

2. The duel with Harsha Bhogle

Harsha Bhogle is one of the very few commentators going around in world cricket who has not played any international or even domestic cricket at the highest level for that matter. He is highly respected in the cricketing fraternity. However, there was a duel he had with Sanjay Manjrekar during the pink-ball Test in Kolkata.

Harsha Bhogle thought that it would be a good idea to ask the players on what they feel about the visibility factor and was conveying his thoughts on air. However, Manjrekar who was also on air with him at that moment argued against it and said that those who’ve played the game have a fair idea of what’s happening.

Bhogle tried to explain and give an in-depth analysis of his point. But Manjrekar didn’t agree to it at all. Here is a gist of how the conversation went along on air.

Harsha Bhogle: When there’s a post-mortem done on this game, and there should be a post-mortem done on this game, visibility of that ball will be factor against the white sightscreen.

Sanjay Manjrekar: Don’t think so. Because when you see the slip catchers, the way they have taken catches, I don’t think visibility is an issue at all. The texture of the ball is the issue.

Harsha Bhogle: Definitely ask batsmen on both sides.

Sanjay Manjrekar: Do you think Virat Kohli wasn’t seeing the ball properly?

Harsha Bhogle: Or Ajinkya Rahane, or Cheteshwar Pujara. Ask all of them, just ask them, ‘what do you think?'”. Because if pink-ball cricket is going to be a regular feature, then you want to make sure everything’s working.

Sanjay Manjrekar: Don’t we get an indication watching from the outside whether the batsman is seeing the ball properly or not?

Harsha Bhogle: Doesn’t cost anything to ask. Always good to know everything around you. If I was doing a post-mortem, I’d ask everything because I want to know everything about the pink-ball game. To see, if everything’s working, why are so many batsmen getting hit.

Sanjay Manjrekar: You need to ask, Harsha. For us, who have played the game, we get a fair idea of what’s happening out there. Have been watching two-and-a-half days, three days of cricket, I don’t think visibility is an issue. We’ve seen some terrific catches taken in the slips, on the boundary as well.

Harsha Bhogle: When you have played the game, you get a very good idea of what’s happening, what the conditions are. But it cannot be a limitation to learning. If you’d never asked players, you’d never have got T20 cricket, you’d never have got day-night cricket. So sometimes it’s best to ask everybody what they think and justify your hypothesis rather than rolling it out before asking. That’s the only point I’m making.

Sanjay Manjrekar: Point taken, but don’t agree.

Manjrekar did apologize for his action later on. But it may have well been one of the reasons why he was ousted as he didn’t respect the views of his fellow commentator.