Sanjay Manjrekar draws a clear line in Test cricket, stating Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma should never be compared. Discover why Kohli’s Test record stands in a league of its own.
The Debate That Divides Cricket Fans
Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar, former and all-rounder a lot often fights against the pairing of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma together in Tests discussions. Manjrekar, despite years of togetherness in Indian team —across formats and tries half hard to differentiate these titans when it comes to Test as one size does not fit all.
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Rohit Sharma had recently said that he will say goodbye to T20 within a couple of years and Kohli follow him shortly, both just turned 35. This timeline is what a lot of comparisons arise from. Nevertheless, the fine point that Manjrekar makes is this; Even though Rohit has very good white-ball credentials compared to Kohli his Test record against the toughest SENA nations (South Africa, EnglandNew Zealand and Australia) is not on par with Kohli‘s global successes.
The ‘RoKo’ Myth Debunked
Fans and pundits often conflate their performances under the general term “RoKo” as Manjrekar cautions. The tag is useful in the context of one-day cricket but fails miserably in the grind that is Test cricket. And the former cricketer tells the realm of cricket to stop treating them as equals at this level, stressing how Kohli is different in consistency and will power.
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Numbers Tell the True Story
Further stats digging, Kohli has 12 Test centuries in SENA nations — oft cited as the batsman’s true proving grounds and that too by Manjrekar. Srivastava, on the other hand has just a century against this stiff opposition, the one and only Sharma scored it at The Oval this year. Rohit Sharma however has an average of around 40 in these countries even after more than 100 innings, long way from his dominance with Kohli.
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Why Kohli Shines Alone in Test Cricket
Manjrekar says, Rohit Sharma if he would have got into playing regular Tests his average might have been much lower. Kohli the ultimate test of Indian batting, Kohli is still a long way ahead of rest. Manjrekar, it’s basic: Kohli is in a class of his own and Kohli’s Test legacy should not be conflated with what Rohit achieved in all formats.
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Concluding the Test cricket arena really asks something out of greatness, Manjrekar’s unvarnished appraisal leaves fans and pundits to acknowledge the special position in which Kohli finds himself here, quelling the time-honored “RoKo” debate for good.
