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The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 season is in full swing, and former cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has stirred the pot with his latest analysis. Manjrekar has revealed his top 10 batters of the tournament so far, and one name conspicuously absent is Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) superstar Virat Kohli.
Sanjay Manjrekar’s top 10 batters: A new breed of IPL firepower
Manjrekar’s list celebrates aggressive, high-impact batting—a hallmark of modern T20 cricket. These names represent a mix of established stars and emerging talents, all of whom have lit up the IPL 2025 season with their explosive batting.
Nicholas Pooran, currently the leading run-scorer and holder of the Orange Cap, tops the list, showcasing his destructive form. Meanwhile, players like Travis Head, Ishan Kishan, and Phil Salt underline the premium placed on attacking strokeplay.
Manjrekar’s choice of batters: Nicholas Pooran, Shreyas Iyer, Travis Head, Nitish Rana, Mitchell Marsh, Aniket Verma, Sherfane Rutherford, Ishan Kishan, Rajat Patidar, Phil Salt
Virat Kohli’s omission: A shocking snub?
Kohli, widely regarded as one of the greatest IPL batters of all time, missing out on this list has raised eyebrows. The former RCB captain has been a consistent performer, often carrying his team’s batting lineup single-handedly. However, in IPL 2025, his approach might not have aligned with the aggressive, boundary-hitting template that Manjrekar seems to favor.
While Kohli remains a vital cog in RCB’s campaign, his teammates Patidar and Salt earning spots on the list could soften the blow for the franchise’s fans. Kohli’s exclusion might also hint at a broader shift in how batting prowess is evaluated in T20s. With the game increasingly favoring power-hitters who can change the course of a match in a few overs, traditional anchors like Kohli may find themselves under scrutiny, even if their overall contribution remains immense.
Also READ: Top 5 totals for RCB against Mumbai Indians in IPL history
Kohli’s numbers in IPL 2025
When it comes to the ongoing season of the cash-rich league, Kohli has been in fine form, showcasing his class and consistency with an impressive batting average of 54.67. Across the four matches he has played so far, the former RCB captain has accumulated a solid 164 runs, with his highest score being a well-crafted 67. Having already notched up two half-centuries, Kohli has demonstrated his ability to anchor innings while still keeping the scoreboard ticking.
Known for his relentless hunger for runs, he appears well on track to pile on even more substantial scores as the tournament progresses, potentially silencing critics and reinforcing his stature as one of the IPL’s all-time greats. Despite his exclusion from Manjrekar’s top 10 list, Kohli’s performances suggest he remains a force to be reckoned with in this high-stakes competition.
