IPL 2023: "Too Much Of A Nice Guy, And This Game Is Not For Nice Guys" - Sanjay Manjrekar Makes Big Statement On Mayank Agarwal's Non-Retention By Punjab Kings

The Indian Premier League (IPL) mini-auction will take place on December 23rd in Kochi. Ahead of the mini-auction, all the teams have revealed which players they have retained and released for the next edition of the IPL. Among the senior players who were released by the franchises, Punjab Kings skipper Mayank Agarwal was a big name.

The Punjab Kings failed to make the playoffs in the last season and finished sixth in the 10-team league. Mayank’s personal form was also not great, as he scored 196 runs in 13 matches at an average of 16.33. Ahead of the IPL 2022, Mayank was retained for a price of INR 14 crore.

Price Tag Doesn’t Help When You’ve Had A Bad Season – Sanjay Manjrekar

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar expressed his thoughts after Agarwal was released by Punjab Kings, saying that franchises looking for the opener will bid for him in the upcoming auction. He believes that one of the main reasons for his release was that he could not justify the high price tag after a poor season.

“See, it’s a very interesting case with Mayank Agarwal, for one, the price tag doesn’t help when you’ve had a bad season. There’s a temptation of releasing that player and using that money to maybe rebuy or you know, look at another option. But the thing about Mayank Agarwal. Too much of a nice guy, and this game is not for nice guys.”

“I mean he had a phenomenal couple of seasons at the top of the order with KL Rahul. He actually out-batted KL Rahul at the top position, became the captain and ideally you would want one more year for a guy to prove himself.”

Worst Thing That He Sacrificed His Opening Position – Sanjay Manjrekar

Manjrekar stated that Agarwal’s decision to give up his opening spot for England’s Jonny Bairstow was a bad choice for him as a batsman, as he did not bat well even in the middle order in the later stages of the IPL 2022.

“And the worst thing that could have happened to him was that he sacrificed his opening position where he was phenomenal, and went down the order. Which meant that batting became more difficult and the runs didn’t come, the pressure built up,” he added.

So, I feel sorry for him, but he will be a very very attractive proposition for teams looking for an opener, because this is the guy who will get you big scores and at a strike rate of 150, 160 and is good against both spin and pace,” he concluded.