Former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh has defended Virat Kohli from Sanjay Manjrekar’s criticism of the “easiest format” during the ongoing ODI series against New Zealand. The cricketer turned commentator said that scoring runs in any format is never easy and if it was so, every player would have been successful.
Manjrekar shared his thoughts on Kohli’s decision to retire from Test cricket while continuing in ODIs, following Joe Root’s second century of the Ashes series in the fifth Test. Manjrekar said Kohli decided to quit the red-ball format at a time when players like Root, Steve Smith and Kane Williamson are still playing.
If it was so easy to score runs in any format, everyone would have scored – Harbhajan Singh
Almost 10 months after retiring from T20Is, Virat Kohli retired from Test cricket ahead of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in England. However, the senior batsman has continued to perform strongly in the ODI format.
Responding to Sanjay Manjrekar’s comment that ODI is the “easiest format”, Harbhajan Singh said that scoring runs is never easy in any format of the game. He also said that Kohli has always been a match-winner for India, no matter which format he plays.
“If it was so easy to score runs in any format, everyone would have made it. Let’s just enjoy what people are doing. Manjrekar has his own way of thinking. He is playing well, winning games, scoring runs and taking wickets. That’s all that matters. It doesn’t matter which format one plays,” Harbhajan said (via Sportstar).
He said, “Virat, whether he plays one format or all formats, has been a brilliant player and a big match-winner for India. He inspires the next generation. The way I see it is that Virat and these players have played a major role in taking this game forward.”
Virat is an incredible player- Harbhajan Singh
Harbhajan Singh said that if Virat Kohli had not retired from the format, he would still have been India’s top Test player. Former Indian cricketer described Kohli as an extraordinary player.
“Virat is an incredible player. Even today, if he plays Test cricket, he will be our main player,” Harbhajan said (via the above source).
The Delhi-born cricketer ended his Test career with 9,230 runs in 123 matches, averaging 46.85 and registering 30 centuries over the years. He scored 190 runs in five Test matches at an average of 23.75, including a century during the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Virat Kohli reaches number 1 in ICC ODI rankings
Virat Kohli moved to the No. 1 spot in the ICC ODI batsman rankings by overtaking Rohit Sharma ahead of the second ODI against New Zealand. He played a match-winning inning of 93 in the series opener in Vadodara, where India chased a target of 301 with six balls to spare.
In the second ODI in Rajkot, Kohli was dismissed by Christian Clarke for 23 runs. India slipped to 118/4 before KL Rahul saved the innings with an unbeaten 112, taking the hosts to 284/7 in 50 overs.
After this New Zealand easily chased the target. Daryl Mitchell scored 131 not out and added 162 runs with Will Young (87) as New Zealand won by seven wickets with 15 balls to spare. The decisive third ODI of the series will be played in Indore on Sunday 18 January.
Also Read: Daryl Mitchell is set to replace Virat Kohli to become the world No. 1 ODI batsman after the fall of Rohit Sharma
