“Virat Kohli is looking back” - Sanjay Manjrekar blames star batter for Yashasvi Jaiswal run-out in BGT 2024-25 4th Test

Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar lashed out at Virat Kohli for the run-out of Yashasvi Jaiswal on Day 2 (Friday, December 27) of the fourth Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 Test in Melbourne.

Manjrekar criticized Kohli for not trusting his partner and looking back, calling it a cardinal sin, and even questioned his basics of running between the wickets.

“What happened here? Yashasvi Jaiswal called for the single, but Virat Kohli is looking back [at the ball]. It is a cardinal sin [to not be looking at running partner]. He [Kohli] is making his case, but Jaiswal says, ‘it was my call’,” Manjrekar said on Star Sports.

The former cricketer further accused the star batter of listening to Jaiswal's call but choosing not to go for the run. He questioned if Virat Kohli did not want to take the single as it was the last ball of the over.

“It was the last ball of the over, I just wonder if it had anything to do with not running the single. He wasn’t keen to run the single for some reason. He [Virat] has listened to the call and not responded to it and is instead looking behind. It is the basics of running between the wickets. It is a telling moment in the game,” Manjrekar stated.

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Yashasvi Jaiswal-Virat Kohli partnership in vain as India lose plot at close of play on Day 2

Yashasvi Jaiswal was batting on 82 when he was unfortunately run-out in what was an absolute blunder.

Jaiswal nudged the ball towards mid-off and set off for a quick single. Virat Kohli initially responded to the call and took a few steps but then looked back to track the ball's position. Deciding against the run, he returned to his crease. By this time, Jaiswal had already reached halfway down the pitch, leaving both batters stranded at the non-striker's end, ultimately leading to Jaiswal's dismissal.

The duo had put together a 102-run stand that kept India in the game. However, soon after Jaiswal's dismissal, Kohli was sent back to the hut as well. Moreover, they also lost the wicket of Akash Deep as the visitors slipped from 153/2 to 159/5 in no time.

At the end of the day's play, India finished on 164/5 and failed to carry momentum into Day 3, trailing by 310 runs with just five wickets remaining.