Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has criticized certain aspects of Indian cricket culture, comparing it to “mainstream Bollywood.” His remarks follow the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) issuing a 10-point guideline for centrally contracted players, emphasizing discipline, team bonding, and the importance of domestic cricket. Manjrekar’s comments particularly focused on the timing of these guidelines and the evolving culture within the team.

Speaking on ESPNCricinfo Newsroom, Sanjay Manjrekar expressed his discontent with the reactive nature of the changes, implemented after India’s recent defeats. “It’s almost juvenile that these things surface after India loses 3-0 against New Zealand and in Australia. These issues should have been addressed while India was winning. A debacle shouldn’t be needed to highlight problems that don’t align with team culture,” he said.
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Manjrekar also reflected on the simpler team dynamics during his playing days. “This should be the norm. During our careers, we shared rooms, and families only joined in the last two weeks of a tour,” he added.
He further compared India’s cricket culture to Bollywood, highlighting the increasing emphasis on individual stardom and security. “The culture in Indian cricket is becoming similar to what we see in Bollywood. I hope cricket remains what it truly is—a sport,” Manjrekar remarked.

Using Sachin Tendulkar as an example, Sanjay Manjrekar pointed out that despite being a massive star, Tendulkar didn’t travel with personal bodyguards. “Sachin was a huge star in our time, but he always traveled with the team and didn’t have a personal bodyguard. Team security was sufficient,” he noted.
Sanjay Manjrekar also questioned the presence of family members during tours, arguing it could hinder team bonding. He suggested that families should not accompany players on shorter tours to maintain focus and camaraderie.
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Manjrekar’s candid remarks shed light on the evolving dynamics of Indian cricket, calling for a return to a team-first approach that prioritizes unity and discipline over individual privileges.