Sanjay Manjrekar Criticizes BCCI's Selection Decision for Afghanistan Series The BCCI's selection committee faced sharp criticism from former India captain Sanjay Manjrekar after omitting young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal from the squad for the upcoming one-day series against Afghanistan. Manjrekar questioned the decision to retain 39-year-old Rohit Sharma as the opener despite Jaiswal's recent stellar performance, arguing that the choice was unjust and lacked logical reasoning. Manjrekar highlighted that Jaiswal, who scored an unbeaten 116 in his last one-day innings, was left out despite his exceptional form and fitness. He accused the committee of favoring an older player over a younger, more dynamic talent, emphasizing that Jaiswal's exclusion was a "mistake" that needed to be addressed. The former commentator also demanded that the selectors apologize to Jaiswal, suggesting that any pressure to include Rohit Sharma should have been accompanied by a gesture of goodwill toward the young cricketer. The controversy centers on the BCCI's strategy for the 2027 World Cup, with Manjrekar questioning whether the organization's long-term plans justify prioritizing experience over potential. He argued that Jaiswal, at just 24 years old, represents the future of Indian cricket and deserves more opportunities to showcase his talent. Manjrekar also raised concerns about the lack of clarity in the selection process, noting that the committee's decision to favor Rohit Sharma over Jaiswal seemed arbitrary and lacked a coherent rationale. Manjrekar further criticized the committee for sidelining Jaiswal, who has been in exceptional form recently, and instead opting for a senior player whose fitness and performance have been questioned.#bcci #rohit_sharma #yashasvi_jaiswal #sanjay_manjrekar #afghanistan_series
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s Example Cited To Slam Impact Player Rule: ‘Player Will Receive Full Match Fee’ Sanjay Manjrekar, a former India batter, has criticized the IPL’s Impact Player rule, arguing that it hinders the all-round development of young talents like 15-year-old Rajasthan Royals star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. Sooryavanshi has been a standout performer in IPL 2026, scoring 583 runs in 14 matches and playing a pivotal role in his team’s playoff run. However, the Impact Sub rule has limited his fielding opportunities, keeping him sidelined for most of the matches. Manjrekar, speaking to Sportstar, questioned whether the rule encourages one-dimensional cricketers by restricting their involvement in games. Manjrekar emphasized that the rule undermines the holistic growth of emerging players. “The more I think about it, the more I feel we need to do away with the Impact Player rule for this very reason,” he said. “Is that really what we want to see about Vaibhav Sooryavanshi? To only see one side of his game?” He argued that cricket should challenge players across multiple facets rather than allowing specialists to contribute briefly before sitting out the rest of the game. The former wicketkeeper highlighted the disparity between a player’s contribution and their financial rewards. “I was just thinking about this when I saw Rohit Sharma in the last game. He scored 22 runs off 15 balls. His entire contribution lasted 15 deliveries,” Manjrekar said. “Yet he’ll still receive the full match fee or whatever comes with it. When there’s easy money to be made for very little effort, you have to start questioning that model. That can never be a sustainable, long-term formula for success.” Manjrekar stressed that evaluating players solely on batting or bowling is insufficient.#rajasthan_royals #ipl #vaibhav_sooryavanshi #sanjay_manjrekar #impact_player_rule
Vaibhav Sooryavanshi's Development Sparks Debate Over IPL's Impact Player Rule Former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar has raised concerns about the developmental impact of the Impact Player rule on 15-year-old cricketer Vaibhav Sooryavanshi during the IPL 2026 season. Sooryavanshi, who has been instrumental in Rajasthan Royals' qualification for the playoffs, has amassed 583 runs in 14 matches, positioning him among the league's top run-scorers. However, Manjrekar highlighted the limited opportunities Sooryavanshi has had to showcase his fielding skills, a situation he linked to the IPL's Impact Player rule, which restricts the number of players required to field during matches. Speaking on Sportstar's Inside Edge podcast, Manjrekar drew parallels between Sooryavanshi's role and that of former India captain Rohit Sharma, who primarily contributes as a batter while spending minimal time on the field during Mumbai Indians' bowling phases. Manjrekar questioned the sustainability of a model where players receive full match fees for minimal effort, arguing that such a system undermines the holistic development of cricketers. "When there's easy money to be made for very little effort, you have to start questioning that model," he said. "That can never be a sustainable, long-term formula for success." Manjrekar emphasized the need to move away from the Impact Player rule, citing the example of Inzamam-ul-Haq, a former Pakistan batter celebrated not only for his batting prowess but also for his all-round contributions on the field. "A cricketer should be someone who contributes across disciplines," he stated. "Earlier, we admired players like Inzamam-ul-Haq not just for their batting, but because we also saw the other side of them in the field. That helped you properly assess and understand the player.#bcci #ipl_2026 #rajasthan_royals #vaibhav_sooryavanshi #sanjay_manjrekar
