April 30, 2025: A war of words—albeit indirect—has erupted in the cricketing world after Vikas Kohli, brother of Indian cricket star Virat Kohli, sharply responded to Sanjay Manjrekar’s recent criticism of the former India captain’s batting in IPL 2025. Manjrekar, known for his outspoken takes, had twice taken subtle digs at Kohli’s form this season, prompting Vikas to publicly hit back.
Taking to the social media platform Threads, Vikas Kohli took a no-holds-barred swipe at Manjrekar, writing:
“Mr. Sanjay Manjrekar. Career ODI strike rate: 64.31. Easy to talk about 200 plus strike rates.”
The remark came after Manjrekar suggested on JioStar that the much-hyped clash between Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah wasn’t a “best vs best” contest anymore, stating:
“Virat Kohli was at his best 5-6 years back. Jasprit Bumrah is at his peak… Kohli’s stocks used to be there at the top, but not now.”
The tension only escalated when Manjrekar posted a list on X (formerly Twitter) of the top IPL 2025 batting performances based on strike rate and run tally — notably excluding Kohli, who currently sits second on the overall run-scorers chart.
As of now, Kohli has scored 443 runs in 10 innings at an average of 63.29 and a strike rate of 138.87, playing a pivotal role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s resurgence this season. With 14 points from 10 matches, RCB is currently at the top of the IPL 2025 table and just one win away from sealing a playoff berth.
Manjrekar’s comments have reignited a long-standing conversation around strike rate vs consistency in T20 cricket — and whether veteran players like Kohli are unfairly scrutinized despite strong performances. Vikas Kohli’s reaction, while personal, has resonated with many fans who believe Virat’s form speaks for itself this season.