IND vs SA: Fired Up And Angry! Sanjay Manjrekar On How He Sees Virat Kohli In Test Series vs South Africa

Cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has said that he likes to see Virat Kohli fired up and angry on the field. According the Sanjay Manjrekar, Virat Kohli performs better when he is fired up and that is why he likes that sight.

Virat Kohli will be seen in the forthcoming India vs South Africa Test series. The right-handed batsman last played in the ICC World Cup 2023, when he won the Player of the Tournament award for smacking the most runs in the league.

Notably, Virat Kohli was the skipper of Team India during the previous tour of South Africa in January 2022. Post the series which India lost 2-1, Kohli stepped down from the Test captaincy.

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Virat Kohli Is Going To Get Fired Up: Sanjay Manjrekar

While speaking about the IND vs SA Test series on Star Sports, former Indian player Sanjay Manjrekar said he feels Virat Kohli is going to get fired up in the Test series. He also said that he likes to see him like that on the field.

“I see Virat Kohli doing his own few things. He is going to get fired up. On the last trip to South Africa, he did not get a big one and Kohli has had to work harder for Test runs recently.

When Virat Kohli is all fired up and angry, that’s the sight I like. David Warner as well. When they get a little fired up, you see them batting better,” Sanjay Manjrekar said.

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Team India Will Play Differently Under Rohit Sharma: Sanjay Manjrekar

During the previous tour of South Africa in 2022, the Virat Kohli-led Indian team got a little out of hand on the field, making negative comments against Proteas management and broadcasters for favoring the home team. Sanjay Manjrekar said that the team won’t repeat such actions this time under skipper Rohit Sharma.

“No. because we have a new leader in Rohit Sharma. But you are right, it brings back memories of players saying something that they have never done before, suggesting that the local broadcasters supported the South African team and all that”

“But that was a different temperamental team the last time around, under Rohit Sharma, they tend to play differently. It’s always the captain who creates the culture, so I don’t see that happening,” 58-year-old Manjrekar further said.

Virat Kohli Owns Oustanding Form In Tests In 2023

Virat Kohli has shown an outstanding form since the start of 2023. The right-handed batsman has shattered 2 centuries in 10 innings in Tests this year at an average of 55.70. Against South Africa, he holds an average of 56+ with 1236 runs across 24 innings. He has also slammed 3 tons against Proteas, 2 of which arrived in away games.

Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma-led Indian team will take on South Africa in two Tests. The IND vs SA 1st T20I commences on Tuesday, December 26 at SuperSport Park in Centurion. Temba Bavuma is the captain of South Africa in the series.

In the ongoing India tour of South Africa 2022-23, India crushed South Africa 2-1 in the ODI series. Earlier, the T20I series ended in a 1-1 tie.