India’s dramatic collapse during the final 30 minutes of Day 2 in the Boxing Day Test against Australia not only left fans frustrated but also sparked a heated debate between former cricketers Irfan Pathan and Sanjay Manjrekar on live television. The discussion on Star Sports Network centered around Yashasvi Jaiswal’s run-out and whether Virat Kohli could have done more to prevent the costly dismissal.
The Critical Moment
At 153/2, India looked comfortable with a solid 102-run partnership between Jaiswal and Kohli. However, disaster struck when Jaiswal was run out, triggering a collapse that saw India lose three wickets for just six runs. The sequence of events leading to Jaiswal’s dismissal became a contentious topic, with differing opinions from Pathan and Manjrekar.
The incident occurred when Jaiswal hit the ball towards Pat Cummins at mid-on and called for a run. Kohli, however, kept his eyes on the ball and did not respond, indicating he wasn’t interested in taking the single. Miscommunication ensued, and Jaiswal ended up being run out, which allowed Australia to regain momentum.
The Debate
During the post-match discussion, Pathan and Manjrekar exchanged sharp words as they analyzed the run-out.
Manjrekar argued that Kohli should have been more decisive in his communication:
“At the other end was Virat Kohli, and we tend to think more from his perspective. It was a schoolboy error from Kohli to look behind and decide against the run. The call belongs to the batter who plays the ball. If Jaiswal made a bad call, he would have been at fault, but since Kohli said no, Jaiswal had no chance. That’s my take.”
Pathan, however, had a different view, emphasizing the role of the non-striker:
“There’s another truth in cricket. If the ball is played towards point or mid-on, it’s the non-striker’s responsibility to make the call. The striker has the liberty to accept or refuse. This is a fundamental aspect of running between the wickets.”
Manjrekar quickly countered Pathan, leading to an intense exchange.
“But Irfan, we’re not talking about point here,” Manjrekar interrupted before the discussion escalated further.
Exchange Turns Heated
As the debate grew more animated, neither Pathan nor Manjrekar was willing to concede their point. Manjrekar eventually concluded with a sarcastic remark:
“If you don’t want to listen, there’s not much left to say. Perhaps it’s time for a new coaching manual with Irfan Pathan’s version of running between the wickets.”
India’s Uphill Task
Amid the commentary clash, India’s situation in the Test match remains precarious. Trailing by 310 runs with five wickets down, the team faces a monumental challenge when Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja take the field on Day 3.
While the debate over the run-out might remain unresolved, the broader issue is India’s inability to capitalize on a strong position, leaving fans and analysts alike questioning the team’s mindset and communication under pressure.
