We Are Unimportant: Sanjay Manjrekar On How Players Should Deal With Commentators
May 19, 2020 at 3:11 PM
Cricketer turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has always been in the news because of his controversial statement on cricketers. Although fans have badly trolled him, the former cricketer has not shied to keep his opinion anytime.
Earlier in March this year, Manjrekar was dropped from the BCCI’s commentary contract. However, the Indian board didn’t give any reason for his exclusion. But fans have been speculating that his controversial statements on Indian cricketers have led his ouster.
‘Nobody is going to be dropped because Sanjay Manjrekar said so’
After India faced the defeat against England during the World Cup 2019, Manjrekar’s “bits-and-pieces player” jibe on all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja had created an uproar. He was also under the radar after he criticised MS Dhoni and many other players during the mega event.
During the Instagram live chat with Ravichandran Ashwin, Manjrekar expressed that players should not take his remark seriously because commentators are unimportant. He also said that his statement would not affect their career.
“The best way for players to deal with people like us is to look at us as garnish. We are unimportant. They are the players, their performances are all that matter. Nobody is going to be dropped because Manjrekar said so,” he said.
The star commentator further recalls his old days when Dilip Vengsarkar criticised him, and he got upset. Thus, he acknowledges that players are bound to react because they are sensitive.
“Players are sensitive. I used to be sensitive. When Dilip Vengsarkar criticized me in his column, I slipped a note under his door, trying to counter all his observations. So I don’t hold it against players when they react,” Manjrekar added.
Sanjay Manjrekar also said that he had no agenda against any player. He even stated that he knows his boundary, and that is why he has been in this business for so long.
“I know my boundaries. That’s why I’m still around. Otherwise I would have been finished as a commentator five years ago. But Indian fan following is unique. They love somebody so much that they don’t want someone like me finding flaws with him,” he added.
It will be interesting to see whether Manjrekar will be back behind the mike if IPL gets resumed post-COVID-19. As of now, the lucrative league has been postponed indefinitely.