India all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja took to Twitter to hit back at former cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar for his jibe against the former in an interview after India's 31-run loss to England in the ongoing World Cup.
India's batting coach Sanjay Bangar had hinted at the possibility of including Jadeja in the playing XI in the match against Bangladesh. When asked about this, Manjrekar was quoted by IANS as saying, “I am not a big fan of bits and pieces players which Jadeja is at this point of his career in 50-over cricket. In Test matches, he is a pure bowler. But in 50-over cricket, I would rather have a batsman and a spinner.”
India managed to beat Bangladesh by 28 runs and clinched the semifinal berth. But Jadeja was not picked in the playing XI.
The 30-year-old tweeted that he had heard enough of Manjrekar's “verbal diarrhoea”. "Still i have played twice the number of matches you have played and i m still playing. Learn to respect ppl who have achieved. i have heard enough of your verbal diarrhoea @sanjaymanjrekar," Jadeja wrote on his Twitter handle.
Still i have played twice the number of matches you have played and i m still playing. Learn to respect ppl who have achieved.i have heard enough of your verbal diarrhoea.@sanjaymanjrekar
— Ravindrasinh jadeja (@imjadeja) July 3, 2019
Jadeja has played 41 Tests for India, scoring 1,485 runs at an average of 32.28, and taking 192 wickets. In 151 ODIs, the all-rounder has 2,035 runs and 174 wickets.
Manjrekar, who is a commentator and columnist now, has represented India in 37 Tests—2,043 runs, averaging 37.14—and 74 ODIs, scoring 1,994 runs at 33.23.
The 53-year-old former player was earlier criticised for his series of tweets criticising Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Mohammed Shami and K.L. Rahul. Pointing out that Dhoni scored more runs off spinners during the warm-up matches, Manjrekar said the player and former India captain ‘does not put his wicket on the line as much during big games’.
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Here’s something interesting about Dhoni -. 41 off 87 balls v spin this WC. But in the warm up games 69 off 56 balls v spin. That tells me it’s mental too. He does not put his wicket on the line as much in the big games.#ICCCWC2019
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) July 2, 2019
Many Twitter users slammed him for the “unfair comparison”.
