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Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar is no stranger to controversy, and once again, he has set social media ablaze. His latest post on X (formerly Twitter) listing the top 10 batters of IPL 2025 so far has drawn widespread criticism and confusion – notably for the absence of two prolific run-scorers: Virat Kohli and Sai Sudharsan. While Manjrekar emphasized high strike rates as the key selection criterion, everyone in the cricketing world seemed baffled at the omission of players currently dominating the Orange Cap race.
Sanjay Manjrekar reveals his list of top 10 batters in IPL 2025
In his post, Manjrekar stated, “When it comes to batting only list that matters. Big runs with great SR so far,” setting the tone for a list that leaned heavily on aggressive scoring over consistency. Names like Nicholas Pooran, Shreyas Iyer, Jos Buttler and Travis Head featured prominently, each boasting explosive strike rates. However, this focus on attacking cricket came at the expense of overall performance balance.
Sudharsan, who currently in the second position of the Orange Cap standings with 417 runs at a healthy strike rate of 152, was surprisingly overlooked. Even more startling was the exclusion of Kohli, who is not only the top scorers with 443 runs but also holds a superb batting average of 63, albeit at a relatively lower strike rate of 138.
Many questioned the inclusion of players like Head, who, despite a blistering strike rate, averages a modest 29 – raising doubts about whether impact over the course of an entire season was being considered properly.
When it comes to batting only list that matters.Big runs with great SR so far.
Pooran : 377 runs SR 205
Priyansh Arya : 254 runs SR 202
Shreyas : 263 runs SR 185
Surya : 373 runs SR 167
Buttler : 356 runs SR 166
Mitchell Marsh : 344 runs SR 161
Travis Head: 261 runs SR…
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) April 26, 2025
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Virat Kohli and Sai Sudharsan’s consistency deserves recognition
Both Kohli and Sudharsan have been pillars of strength for their respective franchises, consistently anchoring innings and providing stability at the top of the order. With six and five half-centuries, they have demonstrated not just the ability to score quickly but also to construct innings under pressure – a crucial trait in the high-intensity environment of the IPL.
Moreover, recent performances suggest that some of Manjrekar’s picks, such as Pooran and Mitchell Marsh, have cooled off after strong starts, while Kohli and Sudharsan have maintained their form with remarkable consistency. It remains clear that while explosive innings may grab headlines, sustained excellence across a long tournament remains invaluable.
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