Sanjay Manjrekar praises ‘favourite cricketer’ Ravindra Jadeja after 14th five-wicket feat

The seasoned all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja performed admirably for the Indian team during the opening innings of the current third Test match against New Zealand. At Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on Friday, November 11, the two teams squared off.

Team India lost the toss and bowled first to start the match. New Zealand amassed 235 runs in the first innings, with India’s Jadeja being the standout performer. Jadeja bowled 22 overs and claimed five outstanding wickets while giving up 65 runs.

Former Indian cricket player Sanjay Manjrekar praised his effort in the first innings on X. Declaring Jadeja his favourite cricket player, Manjrekar said that India needed Jadeja’s spell.

“Happy for my favourite cricket player, Jadeja.” A fifer? That’s what he needed! So did the squad,” Manjrekar wrote on Twitter.

Over the moon for my favourite cricketer, Jadeja.
A fifer! He needed that! And so did the team.

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) November 1, 2024

In 2019, Sanjay Manjrekar got into a verbal altercation with Ravindra Jadeja.

Notably, Manjrekar was questioned about Jadeja’s inclusion in the India XI during the 2019 ODI World Cup, which sparked controversy between the two players. Interestingly, Manjrekar quickly referred to the seasoned all-rounder as a “bits-and-pieces” player when questioned if Jadeja should play after India had just lost to eventual victors England.

That didn’t sit well with Jadeja, though. In a swift response, the all-rounder stated that he had played twice as many games as Manjrekar and has kept playing for India.

Still i have played twice the number of matches you have played and i m still playing. Learn to respect ppl who have achieved.i have heard enough of your verbal diarrhoea.@sanjaymanjrekar

— Ravindrasinh jadeja (@imjadeja) July 3, 2019

I’ve still played twice as many games as you have, and I’m still going strong. Respect those who have accomplished something. Your verbal diarrhoea has reached a breaking point. “@sanjaymanjrekar,” Jadeja had posted on Twitter.

Also Read: Stats: Ravindra Jadeja becomes fifth-highest Indian wicket-taker in Test cricket

Manjrekar’s opinion of Jadeja appears to have altered since their vocal altercation in 2019, as he lavished praise on his first innings performance in the third NZ Test.