The cricket world is not untouched by the vocal opinions of former Indian batsman turned commentator. Sanjay ManjrekarHowever, this is the latest chapter in his long history of criticism Virat Kohli Has struck a personal nerve. After the opening match of India vs New Zealand ODI Series In January 2026, there was a storm on social media – not just because of the action on the field, but because of Virat’s brother’s sharp rebuttal, Vikas Kohli,
The tension stems from Manjrekar’s recent comments questioning Virat’s decision to retire from Test cricket in 2025 and continue playing in the 50-over format. Manjrekar termed ODIs as the easiest format for top-order batsmen and suggested that Kohli move away from the challenges of the red-ball game instead of fixing his technical flaws.
Vikas, who often acts as a shield for his brother against online vitriol, did not hold back this time either. Taking to social media soon after the first ODI in Vadodara, Vikas shared a cryptic but clear message to criticize Manjrekar.
,What a simple format isn’t it…someone gave his knowledge a few days ago…it’s easier said than done.,” Vikas wrote on social media. In a separate post that went viral a few days ago, he said,It seems as if people can’t eat their food without mentioning the name of Virat Kohli.” (It seems like people can’t earn their living without mentioning Virat Kohli).
Although Vikas avoided taking Manjrekar’s name directly, the timing was clear. Manjrekar recently doubled down on his stance, arguing that top-order batsmen in ODIs do not face slip or gully and essentially line up to bat in the top three because of how easy it is to score. Vikas’s response served as a reminder that regardless of the format, it is never easy to perform under the burden of billions of expectations.
Also read: Top 3 players with most Player of the Match awards in ODIs. Virat Kohli
Virat Kohli’s brilliant performance in ODI has silenced the critics.
While the war of words intensified off the field, Virat responded in the way he knows best by dominating the field at 22 yards. In the first ODI against New Zealand, Kohli played a brilliant inning of 93 runs in 91 balls in a tense chase of 301 runs. Although he missed his 85th international century, his performance was a tactical clinic in middle overs accumulation and strike rotation.
This innings was not an isolated incident but a continuation of a massive purple patch for the veteran player. Kohli entered the New Zealand series on the basis of excellent home performance Vijay Hazare Trophy and protesting against an influential person South AfricaDuring his 93-run stint at the crease in Vadodara, Virat achieved two important achievements:
- 28,000 international runs: He became the fastest player to reach this milestone Sachin Tendulkar Up to 20 innings.
- Historic climbs: He went ahead Kumar Sangakkara He has become the second highest run scorer in the history of international cricket and is now behind only Tendulkar.
Far from considering the format easy, Kohli’s recent form suggests a player who has evolved his game to maintain a strike rate above 100 while remaining the team’s most reliable anchor. As the series progresses, King intends to prove that even though commentators can talk, class is permanent.