In the annals of Indian cricket, Sanjay Manjrekar was once hailed as the true heir to Sunil Gavaskar. Inheriting his cricketing genes from his father, Vijay Manjrekar—a stalwart during the era when Indian cricket was still finding its footing on the global stage—he was destined for the sport. Fate, however, dealt a harsh blow: when the elder Manjrekar passed away, Sanjay was only 18 years old and had not even made his debut in the Ranji Trophy. Despite this, his father held a deep conviction that his son would one day not only play the game but don the prestigious Team India jersey.
A Reputation for Technical Perfection
Throughout his international career, Sanjay Manjrekar established himself as a technically sound and solid batsman. His records on foreign pitches were particularly exemplary, earning him the nickname ‘Mr. Perfect’ among his peers due to his flawless batting technique. Sachin Tendulkar, often referred to as the God of Cricket, viewed him differently, calling him ‘Mr. Different’—a label that reflected his unique personality and distinct character.
The Unexpected End of a Career
Despite his immense capability, Sanjay Manjrekar could not reach the historic heights that the contemporary cricketing world and his fans had envisioned for him. His career trajectory did not last as long as expected. In his 2018 autobiography titled ‘Imperfect’, he candidly revealed the reasons behind this premature end. Manjrekar explicitly acknowledged that the rise of Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly on the Indian cricket horizon signaled the end of his international playing days.
The 1996 England Tour and Realization
In his book, Manjrekar wrote that when he decided to bid farewell to the game, he was a key batsman in the team and certainly not out of form. However, the historic 1996 tour of England shifted his perspective entirely. While Rahul Dravid was expected to perform well on that tour, Sourav Ganguly’s performance came as a massive and pleasant surprise to everyone. Sanjay honestly admitted that watching the way Dravid and Ganguly batted in English conditions made him realize his ‘time was up’ and that it was better to step aside for the youngsters. After retiring, instead of dwelling on the past, he turned to the commentary box, where he carved out a strong and distinct identity for himself.
Critique of Sachin Tendulkar and Team Selection
Sanjay Manjrekar is known for his outspoken nature, and in his book, he did not hesitate to critique Sachin Tendulkar. However, he framed his thoughts in a balanced and measured manner. Manjrekar wrote that when Tendulkar was in the final phase of his career, several things were going wrong within the team due to his presence. During this period, when Tendulkar was struggling with poor form, no one in the then-management or selection committee had the courage to drop him from the playing-11, purely due to his stature as a legendary player. Manjrekar believed that consistently keeping a player in the team despite poor form was a cruel joke on the talented youngsters waiting on the sidelines.
