Former Indian cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has finally opened up about his long-standing disputes with Ravindra Jadeja and Mohammed Shami, controversies that have often kept him in the headlines. Manjrekar had famously described Jadeja as a “bits and pieces” cricketer during the 2019 ODI World Cup, a remark that did not sit well with the all-rounder, who hit back strongly at him on social media. More recently, before the IPL 2025 mega auction, Manjrekar raised questions about Shami’s fitness, which also sparked a backlash from the pacer.
Speaking in an interview, Manjrekar said that both players had misunderstood him. “I think Jadeja was more misunderstood; he misinterpreted the term ‘bits and pieces’. As for Shami, I don’t even know what exactly he reacted to. Someone told me later that he had responded, but I didn’t really understand why,” he explained. Manjrekar admitted that earlier in his career he used to get affected by such controversies and tried to clarify himself, but with time he learned that “it’s like a tsunami, once it comes, there is no way to stop it.”
The 2019 World Cup episode with Jadeja had turned into a major flashpoint when the all-rounder lashed out, saying he had played more matches than Manjrekar and was still performing at the highest level, urging him to respect achievers rather than dismiss them. Years later, Manjrekar’s comments on Shami’s injury history before the IPL 2025 auction also created ripples. He suggested that while franchises would be interested in the veteran pacer, his frequent fitness concerns might lower his market value. Shami, however, proved critics wrong after being picked up by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 10 crore, and soon posted a pointed Instagram story aimed at Manjrekar: “Jai Baba. Save some knowledge for your future too, it might come in handy, Sanjay ji. If anyone wants to know about the future, meet Sir.”
By clarifying his stand now, Manjrekar has tried to put the controversies into perspective, but it remains to be seen whether his explanation changes how the players or fans view those comments.
