Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: A dramatic mix-up between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli during Day 2 of the 4th Test against Australia has triggered an intense debate between former cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar and Irfan Pathan on Star Sports. The unfortunate run-out of Jaiswal, who was well-set with Kohli in a 102-run partnership, raised questions about who was at fault for the mishap.
Manjrekar criticized Kohli, claiming that he should have taken the single as Jaiswal was running to the danger end. “It was a schoolboy error from Kohli. If it was a bad call by Jaiswal, he would have been run out at the non-striker’s end,” Manjrekar remarked.
Pathan countered, defending Kohli’s hesitation. He argued that Kohli, as a non-striker, had the right to refuse the run if he judged it to be too risky. “The shot hit by Jaiswal was too hard, and Kohli probably assessed that taking the run wasn’t safe,” said Pathan.
On-Air Disagreement
The exchange between the two experts grew intense, with Manjrekar interrupting Pathan, saying, “If you don’t want to let me talk, it’s alright.” Pathan, undeterred, continued to emphasize his point, prompting Manjrekar to sarcastically suggest adding Pathan’s interpretation of a run-out scenario to coaching manuals.
Manjrekar also speculated that Kohli’s subsequent dismissal could have been influenced by guilt over Jaiswal’s run-out. “He was focused and leaving deliveries outside off-stump until then. The run-out incident may have disturbed his concentration,” Manjrekar concluded.
