Sanjay Manjrekar praises 'favourite cricketer' Ravindra Jadeja after 14th five-wicket feat

Veteran India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja looked excellent for team India in the first innings of the ongoing third Test against New Zealand. Both sides locked horns at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday, November 11, in Mumbai.

The clash began with team India bowling first after losing the toss. In the first innings, New Zealand managed to post a total of 235 runs, and Jadeja was the star of the show for India. Bowling 22 overs, Jadeja took five brilliant wickets and conceded 65 runs to his name. 

Seeing his performance, former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar took to X and lauded his showing in the first innings. Branding Jadeja as his favourite cricketer, Manjrekar opined that Jadeja’s spell was just what India needed.

“Over the moon for my favourite cricketer, Jadeja. A fifer! He needed that! And so did the team,” Manjrekar tweeted.

Manjrekar was involved in verbal spat with Jadeja in 2019

It is worth noting that both Jadeja and Manjrekar were part of a controversy in 2019 during the ODI World Cup when Manjrekar was asked about Jadeja’s inclusion in the India XI. Interestingly, India had just lost a game to eventual winners England, and when asked if Jadeja should play, Manjrekar was quick to brand the veteran all-rounder as a "bits-and-pieces" player.

However, the same did not sit well with Jadeja. The all-rounder was quick to give out a reply, opining that he has played twice the number of matches as Manjrekar and continued to represent India.

“Still I have played twice the number of matches you have played and i m still playing. Learn to respect ppl who have achieved. I have heard enough of your verbal diarrhoea. @sanjaymanjrekar,” Jadeja had tweeted. 

After their verbal spat in 2019, it seems like Manjrekar has changed his point of view about Jadeja as he heaped praise on his first innings showing from the third NZ Test.