'Not anymore' - Sanjay Manjrekar rectifies his remark on players like Hardik Pandya

A few days back the former Indian batsman and cricket analysts Sanjay Manjrekar had stirred a controversy in the cricket fraternity by opining that he doesn’t fancy bits-and-pieces all-rounders like Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja in the limited-overs format. Instead, he believes that the specialist should be preferred in the team as they can win matches.

However, both Hardik and Jadeja managed to shut the mouth of critics and people like Manjrekar who questioned their position in India’s ODI batting line-up by scripting victory for India in the final ODI of the three-match series against Australia to deny a series whitewash.

Batting first, India was reeling at a score of 152 for 5 in 31.6 overs after Virat Kohli got out scoring 63 runs. Pandya and Jadeja reconstructed the innings for India stitched a crucial partnership of unbeaten 150 runs for the sixth wicket to guide India towards a total of 302 in 50 overs. Towards the fag end of the first innings, both the all-rounders had smashed the ball all over the park and had collected 93 runs in the last 7 overs.

Fans grill Sanjay Manjrekar on Twitter

Seeing this spectacular performance by both the all-rounders, the Indian cricket fans took a jibe at Sanjay Manjrekar and trolled him for demeaning Hardik and Ravindra. People on social media also reminded Manjrekar about his words for Hardik and Jadeja and urged him to apologize to both the players.

“My selection and thoughts are based on a principle that I have learned over the years: if you have specialists who can walk-in based on one discipline, you fill your team with those players. I do not have a problem with Jadeja; I have a problem with his kind of cricketers in white-ball cricket.

“Even Hardik Pandya will not be in my team. They add illusory value to the team. Of course, I have always rated Jadeja highly in the Test format,” Sanjay Manjrekar had said.

The veteran cricketer finally realized his mistake and accepted that Hardik is the perfect option for the Number 6 position in ODIs for India. Notably, the all-rounder has refrained himself from bowling regularly due to his back issues but is essaying the role of a specialist batsman.

Sanjay Manjrekar tweeted, “Was skeptical about Hardik the pure batsman in 50 overs cricket. Not anymore.”