IND vs PAK: Sanjay Manjrekar And Waqar Younis Involved In Heated TV Exchange On The Latter Comparing Hardik-Jadeja With Yuvraj Singh

Former India batsman Sanjay Manjrekar is known for speaking his mind out and making bold statements and he was at it again during a recent conversation on Indian all-rounders.

The former cricketer-turned-commentator and former Pakistan captain Waqar Younis were talking about the Indian team on Star Sports during the rain break of the India vs Pakistan match at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday (September 10).

The topic of the discussion was India’s all-rounders, past and present. Waqar suggested that current India stars such as Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya are in the same league as the legendary Yuvraj Singh. The former India allrounder is widely regarded as the greatest match-winner for India in the limited-overs format.

Yuvraj played a starring role in the victorious campaigns at the 2007 T20 World Cup and 2011 ODI World Cup. In fact, he was the Man of the Tournament for his stunning displays with both bat and ball in the ODI World Cup as he helped India win the World Cup after a long gap of 28 years.

Sanjay Manjrekar and Waqar Younis on India’s allrounders:

And while both Jadeja and Pandya are yet to power India to a victory in a big competition like the World Cup, Waqar believes that they have done enough to be compared with Yuvraj. However, Sanjay Manjrekar had a different opinion. While he praised Pandya and Jadeja for their performance, he said that the duo still cannot be compared with Yuvraj.

“Look at what Hardik and Jadeja bring to the table. They are well equipped with both bat and ball. Especially Hardik Pandya – the way he batted against Pakistan – I think he is a really destructive batter at No. 6. Any team would love to have someone like him. He is aggressive, and now as we saw in the previous match, he is very sensible and smart,” Waqar told Star Sports.

In reply, Sanjay Manjrekar said: “Yuvraj is arguably India’s best white-ball batter. He could win games and was in a different league. Hardik and Jadeja, with due respect, aren’t quite there. These two are far better bowlers than Yuvraj Singh but because that one discipline was so discipled.”

Waqar was not impressed with Sanjay Manjrekar’s opinion and said: “Not even Hardik Pandya? With the kind of batting that he has shown? I am not comparing them but the intention is there.”

“He has the potential but when I see him at this stage, it’s not a guarantee that he will come and bowl all 10 overs like one of the mainstream bowlers. I see him as more of a batting all-rounder and he batted really well in the last game,” Sanjay Manjrekar said.

“So yes, they have this combined skill to make the kind of contribution made but one discipline of Yuvraj Singh, like I said, was at a different level. In pitches that help Jadeja the bowler, his batting will come through but Hardik the batter doesn’t need a bad ball or loose ball to decide that this needs to go,” he added.

Meanwhile, the India vs Pakistan game will continue on Monday due to the reserve day rule in place. India were on 147 for 2 in the 25th over when heavy rain interrupted the game and did not let the teams take the field again on Sunday.