(Credit ICC)
The clash between Ravindra Jadeja and former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar during the ICC World Cup 2019 is still vivid in the memory of cricket enthusiasts. Back when the Indian team was vying for their third ODI World Cup title in the UK five years ago, Manjrekar labeled Jadeja as a ‘bits and pieces player’, sparking a heated exchange on social media. While the two have since moved past their differences, fans continue to monitor their dynamic closely.
In a recent development that captured fans’ interest, both individuals found themselves in unique positions during the India vs Bangladesh T20 World Cup warm-up match. Manjrekar was commentating on the game while Jadeja was out on the field. In the 17th over of India’s innings, Jadeja attempted to play a shot against Tanvir Islam but missed, leading to an appeal by Bangladesh as wicketkeeper Liton Das swiftly removed the bails. The decision was ultimately referred to the TV umpire amidst the excitement.
Although it seemed that Jadeja’s back leg was just behind the crease line, the all-rounder was given the benefit of the doubt. However, the commentators believed it was an out, sparking some nostalgia among fans when Manjrekar made a playful comment about the TV replay.
“He did not get his toes behind the line and only the toes, as you can see, are in contact with the ground. Now it’s Jadeja batting so I better shut up,” he said as the other two commentators burst into laughter.
In the 2019 ODI World Cup, a memorable confrontation took place between Jadeja and Manjrekar. Following Manjrekar’s “bits and pieces” comment, Jadeja responded with a post asserting his cricketing experience and achievements. Despite this exchange, Jadeja’s impressive 77-run innings against New Zealand in the semi-final received widespread acclaim, particularly for his crucial partnership with MS Dhoni. Even Manjrekar himself commended Jadeja’s efforts during this match.
“I have to apologise to him (Ravindra Jadeja), he was looking for me but I wasn’t there. I was in the lounge taking my lunch, I’m sorry,” Manjrekar said in the post-match discussion.
