Virat Kohli’s decision to step away from Test cricket last year is still a hot topic, but few expected the storm that followed after Sanjay Manjrekar’s comments. The former Indian cricketer didn’t hold back, suggesting that Kohli walked away too soon from the red-ball format. According to Manjrekar, Kohli, despite being in top physical shape, should have shown more fight rather than turning his back on the format that built his legacy.
Manjrekar went a step further, comparing Kohli to his Fab-4 contemporaries from Australia, England, and New Zealand, who are still piling on runs. The insinuation was clear: Kohli lacked the same hunger or resilience. Unsurprisingly, those words didn’t go down well with fans — many of whom saw them as a thinly veiled attack on a player who has carried Indian cricket for over a decade.
However, it wasn’t just the fans who stood up for Kohli.
Vikas Kohli, Virat’s elder brother, took to social media to respond to Manjrekar’s remarks. In a sharp, sarcastic tweet, he wrote, “Seems like logon ki daal roti nahi chalti... bina Virat Kohli ka naam liye hue.” The message was loud and clear — stop using Virat's name for attention.
This isn’t the first time Manjrekar has been at the center of controversy for his outspoken takes, and Vikas’s response reflects a growing sentiment among cricket lovers who feel that Virat’s contributions deserve more respect, especially at this stage of his career.
Kohli’s retirement from Test cricket came as a surprise, but it was also a personal call — one that reflected his own timing and priorities. While debates around timing are valid in sport, personal attacks or questioning a player’s character often cross the line.
For a player who redefined aggression and consistency in red-ball cricket, Kohli’s exit deserves dignity — not criticism disguised as analysis. Vikas Kohli’s tweet, while brief, captured what many fans have felt: legends should be celebrated, not pulled down in the name of debate.
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