Former Indian batter Mohammad Kaif has launched a scathing attack on Sanjay Manjrekar for his recent statements against Virat Kohli.
Kaif called Manjrekar a “fool” for saying Virat Kohli chose the “easy format” that is ODI cricket, as he didn’t have the guts to play Test cricket.
Mohammad Kaif slams Sanjay Manjrekar over ‘Easy Format’ remark on Virat Kohli
Kaif has pointed out that the big players across the world are struggling to dominate all formats at the same time in the modern era. He also mentioned that England batter Joe Root is an excellent Test batter, but his record in ODIs is not great.
On the other hand, Virat Kohli stands far above everyone else in ODIs. Kaif made it clear that no player comes close to Kohli’s consistency and impact in ODIs.
Mohammad Kaif told the journalist Ravi Bisht, “This argument makes no sense. Look around—big players are struggling across formats. Tell me one player who is equally dominant in all formats. Name anyone. You keep saying Joe Root. Joe Root… Take Joe Root, for example. He is a great Test player, but his ODI record is not good. Now talk about Virat Kohli. No one comes close to him in one-day cricket.”
Kaif disagreed that Kohli took an easy route. He reminded Manjrekar that Kohli has already scored more than 9,000 runs in Test cricket and has nothing left to prove there.
‘Childish and Foolish’: Kohli’s ODI supremacy sets him apart from the rest
He added, “If someone says Virat chose an easy format and walked away from a tough one, that is completely wrong. He has already scored more than 9,000 runs in Test cricket. He has already proved himself in the toughest format of the game. There is nothing left for him to prove.”
The former Indian batter also pointed out that Kohli has delivered in all three formats and ruled the cricket world for years, so calling his decision weak or easy is childish and unfair.
Kaif signed off by saying, “Virat has already proved himself in all three formats of the game. Many players will never reach his level in even one format. Calling this decision weak or easy is childish and foolish. One-day cricket is not easy. In ODIs, people expect Virat to score a hundred, not a quick 30. And he also scores 100s and 90s and wins the matches for the team. If the format is really that easy, why don’t other players perform like Virat Kohli? That’s the real question.”
Is @imVkohli playing the easiest (ODI) format? @MohammadKaif has answer #viratkholi #ViratKohli𓃵 pic.twitter.com/5FosEjefwL
— Ravish Bisht (@ravishbofficial) January 13, 2026
Sanjay Manjrekar questions Virat Kohli’s Test grit
Last week, Sanjay Manjrekar targeted Virat Kohli after Joe Root and Steve Smith both cracked centuries in the final Ashes Test at Sydney. The former Indian batter said that it was painful for him to see Kohli give up on Test cricket and shift his focus fully to the “easy format”—ODI cricket.
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Kohli retired from Test cricket in May 2025 after a disastrous Australia tour. The Border-Gavaskar Trophy exposed a major weakness in his batting. Across nine innings, Kohli scored just 190 runs and kept getting out in the same manner, chasing deliveries outside the off stump.
Manjrekar felt Kohli failed to fix this problem and decided to step away from Test cricket altogether. He hinted that Kohli announced his Test retirement because he could not solve his technical issues, especially against quality fast bowling in challenging conditions.
Manjrekar explains why ODI is an easy format
He also took a sharp dig at Kohli for choosing an easy format—ODI cricket—and explained why this format is more comfortable for top batters. However, Kohli’s overall Test numbers remain impressive, with 123 matches, 9,230 runs, 30 centuries, and 31 half-centuries to his name.
Now, Kohli continues to dominate the ODI format and remains the highest century-maker in the format with 53 centuries. After Kohli’s dominant knock in the first ODI against New Zealand, Manjrekar said that the ODI format is easy for top-order and No. 3 batters because there’s no four slips and a gully, and bowlers just try to make sure not to leak many runs, not attacking you.
