Former cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has once again stirred controversy with his latest remarks following India’s narrow 22-run loss in the second Test at Lord’s. While the cricket world lauded Ravindra Jadeja for his unbeaten 61-run knock under pressure, Manjrekar took a different stance, suggesting that Team India lacked the intent to win and instead appeared to be playing for a draw.

Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, Manjrekar said that the early collapse on Day 4 had already tilted the match 70 percent in England’s favor. But what caught attention was his subtle criticism of Jadeja and debutant Nitish Reddy. He pointed out that although both batsmen occupied the crease for a long time, they didn’t take the kind of calculated risks required to chase down the target of 193. He compared this approach to that of England’s Ben Stokes, known for his aggressive, counter-attacking style in similar situations.

Manjrekar claimed, “Jadeja played a solid innings. But during the chase, he and Nitish Reddy didn’t seem to be trying to win. There was no attempt to accelerate the scoring with attacking shots, which allowed England to stay on top. It looked like they were playing to survive, not to win.”

He further emphasized how the spells by Jofra Archer and Ben Stokes changed the course of the match. Manjrekar admitted he sometimes sees Archer as overrated, but gave him full credit for dismissing Rishabh Pant with a brilliant delivery. Similarly, Stokes trapping KL Rahul was, in Manjrekar’s words, “a big moment on a pitch where even tailenders weren’t getting out easily.”

Manjrekar also heaped praise on Ben Stokes, calling him a big-match player. “His stats might not look spectacular, but if there were a metric for match-winning moments, Stokes would probably top the list,” he said. “The way he kept bowling himself with Pant and Rahul at the crease shows his mentality. He’s a true champion.”

While many fans and experts have applauded Jadeja’s composure and resilience, Manjrekar’s comments have sparked debate about whether India should have been more aggressive in pursuit of victory. The statement has once again placed the outspoken commentator at the center of yet another heated cricketing discussion.