Former India player-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has faced criticism for his love-hate relationship with cricketers, stemming from his commentary as well. He said ‘bits and pieces’ remarks on Ravindra Jadeja, which didn’t go down well with many. Now, he shared how Virat Kohli is very “sensitive to criticism”.

“That is very important to him (staying private). But he is somebody who is also very sensitive to criticism. Yeah, yeah, I think he gets to know about what’s being said about him, because I’ve had experience with him as a captain and player. And suddenly one day I would find him very cold at the toss or whatever, and I would think, perhaps he heard something that was being said about him,” Manjrekar said during Sportstar’s Insight Edge Podcast.

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“So he’s one of those first guys who kept saying, ‘You know, we don’t care about what people say,’ but he’s also very sensitive. But maybe it’s a good thing as well; if he hears that kind of criticism or something negative, that will just spur him on to get that next big hundred,” he further added.

While Sanjay Manjrekar has had some issues with Virat Kohli as a cricketer, he has also often opined on the aspects of Kohli he finds admirable.

“The thing to like about him as captain was when things went flat, when he knew he wouldn’t be able to get a wicket on the pitch with the bowling resources he had. He would still make sure the team was driven and that there was energy on the field, and he made them believe things would happen. I think that was his great strength,” said Manjrekar.

“I’ve always believed that the team wears the look of the captain. Under Virat Kohli, every player had to be like Virat Kohli. If anyone went out there and looked a little flat, they would not be playing the next Test match. So everybody responded to Virat’s aggression,” Sanjay Manjrekar concluded.