Former Indian cricketer turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has once again indirectly targeted Virat Kohli over the issue of strike rate in the ongoing IPL 2025.
Virat Kohli has been in great form and is key to Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s dominance this season.
Kohli is currently in the fifth position in the race for the Orange Cap with 443 runs from 10 games at a strike rate of 138 and an average of 63.29.
The dashing right-hander has already smashed six fifties in his ten outings so far in the tournament, but it was his low strike rate that has become Sanjay Manjrekar’s biggest weapon to indirectly fire shots at the RCB icon.
Virat Kohli among the Top-5 in the race for the Orange Cap in the IPL 2025
Presently, Gujarat Titans’ Sai Sudharsan is leading the chart with 504 runs in 10 games at an impressive strike rate of 154.13 and an average of over 50, followed by Mumbai Indians’ Suryakumar Yadav, who has 475 runs in 11 matches at an astounding strike rate of 172.73.
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England and Gujarat Titans’ batter Jos Buttler is the third-highest run getter with 470 runs in 10 matches at an amazing average of 78 and a strike rate of 169.06, and Shubman Gill is in the fourth position in the Orange Cap race with 465 runs in 10 outings at 162.02.
Sanjay Manjrekar trolls Virat Kohli while praising Suryakumar Yadav
Following MI’s 100-run win over Rajasthan Royals, Sanjay Manjrekar took to social media to highlight Suryakumar Yadav’s exceptional performance in IPL 2025.
The cricket pundit said that the Orange Cap looks much better on Suryakumar while mentioning his amazing strike rate.
Manjrekar’s praise was seen by many as a subtle dig at other top performers in the ongoing IPL 2025, especially Kohli, who is among the top contenders for the Orange Cap despite having a low strike rate.
Even Sanjay Manjrekar recently emphasized aggressive play and high strike rates and ignored Kohli in his top 10 batters list due to his low strike rate this season.
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Sanjay Manjrekar posted on X: “The orange cap is looking extra bright on this batter… most runs so far in the IPL, that too at an SR of 172! Well done, Surya! 👏👏👏”
The orange cap is looking extra bright on this batter…most runs so far in the IPL, that too at a SR of 172!
Well done Surya! 👏👏👏#IPLonJioStar #MI— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) May 2, 2025
However, Sai Sudharsan ditched Suryakumar after Gujarat Titans crushed Sunrisers Hyderabad by 38 runs in their IPL 2025 clash on Friday, April 2.
Sai Sudharsan becomes the fastest Indian to score 2000 T20 runs
Meanwhile, Sai Sudharsan has created history by becoming the fastest Indian to score 2000 runs in T20 cricket, breaking a long-standing record held by legend Sachin Tendulkar.
The Gujarat Titans batter reached the milestone during their IPL 2025 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad, where he played a brilliant knock of 48 runs from just 23 balls.
He smashed 9 boundaries before being dismissed by Zeeshan Ansari. Sudharsan achieved the feat in just 57 innings, surpassing Tendulkar’s record of 59 innings.
Overall, Australia’s Shaun Marsh is the fastest player to reach 2000 T20 runs in 53 innings, followed by Sudharsan.
Notably, Gujarat climbed to second place in the IPL 2025 points table with 14 points from 10 games, while Hyderabad, sitting at ninth, is now on the verge of elimination from the tournament.