New Delhi: Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar courted controversy with a cryptic post on Twitter on Saturday. Manjrekar appeared to be aiming a dig at current India head coach Gautam Gambhir and the hype surrounding his appointment as he said there is no correlation between the quality of a coach and trophies won by the team when it comes to Indian cricket.
In his tweet, Manjrekar listed down all the World Cup-winning coaches of the Indian team while suggesting that the presence of a certain coach doesn’t guarantee any success. The Indian team had no head coach when it won the ODI World Cup in 1983 while Lalchand Rajput was in charge when MS Dhoni & Co. won their maiden T20 World Cup title in 2007.
Gary Kirsten was India’s head coach when the Men in Blue scripted history by winning the ODI World Cup at home under Dhoni in 2011 while Rahul Dravid helped India end their 11-year-long ICC trophy drought with a memorable triumph in the T20 World Cup 2024. Naming all of them, Manjrekar took an indirect dig at Gambhir in his tweet.
“No coach, Lalchand Rajput, Gary Kirsten & Dravid. Coaches when India won WCs in 1983, 2007, 2011 & 2023. It’s really about Indian cricket, not who the coach is. Time we stop thinking there is a direct correlation,” wrote Manjrekar.
No coach, Lalchand Rajput, Gary Kirsten & Dravid. Coaches when India won WCs in 1983, 2007, 2011 & 2023.
It’s really about Indian cricket, not who the coach is. Time we stop thinking there is a direct correlation.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) July 27, 2024
Manjrekar’s tweet soon went viral, drawing mixed reactions from fans. While some urged him to provide more clarity on what he wanted to convey through his analogy, others slammed him for taking a dig at Gambhir. Fans also accused Manjrekar of being ‘salty’ and unnecessarily criticising Gambhir.
Here’s how fans reacted to Manjrekar’s tweet:
Why are you salty of gambhir now?
— vir (@minimalkohli) July 27, 2024
Salty much? Stop the diarrhoea again.
— AGirlHasNoName (@KPN1790) July 27, 2024
What are you trying to say ? Keep clarity in your statements . It’s just a start for @GautamGambhir . Let him do his job.
— Dipanjan Chatterjee (@I_am_DipCh) July 27, 2024
He’s so Invested in his jealousy and agenda that he forgot Indian won in 2024 not 2023 😂😂😂
Lobby getting triggered by the attention Gambhir is getting.
— Riseup Pant (@riseup_pant17) July 27, 2024
You should’ve applied for the post if you’re feeling jealous now…also what WC did we win in 2023?
— Johns (@JohnyBravo183) July 27, 2024
Gambhir set to begin his stint with Sri Lanka T20I series
Gambhir is set to begin his stint as the head coach of the Indian cricket team with the upcoming T20I series against Sri Lanka. India are in Sri Lanka currently for a white-ball series consisting of three T20Is and as many ODIs. The first T20I between the two teams will be played at the Pallekele International Stadium in Pallekele on Saturday, July 27.
Ahead of his first game in charge of the Indian team, Gambhir also received a special message from former India head coach Rahul Dravid, who wished him the best for his rein. Suryakumar Yadav will be leading India in the T20I series against Sri Lanka while Rohit Sharma will return to lead the visitors in the ODIs.
Sanjay Manjrekar was brutally trolled by fans after his cryptic post taking a dig at India head coach Gautam Gambhir went viral. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
