Former cricketer urges fans to stop overhyping one-sided contests
Former Indian cricketer turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has sparked a conversation online by urging fans and broadcasters to dial back the frenzy surrounding the traditional rivalry between the two neighbors. Following India’s comprehensive victory over Pakistan in the ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026, Manjrekar suggested that the contest has become too one-sided to warrant such massive promotion.
Manjrekar took to Instagram to express his views after India secured a comfortable win in Colombo on Sunday. He bluntly stated that the India vs Pakistan cricket match hype needs to stop, noting that the Men in Blue have clearly moved ahead in terms of quality. He believes it is time for the fans to accept this reality as well.
According to the veteran of over 100 international matches, the two teams are currently a "mismatch" cricket-wise. He admitted finding it difficult to digest the massive revenue generation and marketing draw based on a rivalry that often lacks competitive balance on the field.
Dominant Performance by Men in Blue
The match itself proved Manjrekar’s point as it turned into a one-sided affair. Under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, India defeated their arch-rivals by a massive 61-run margin. This victory marked India's third consecutive win, securing their spot in the Super 8 stage and cementing their position at the top of Group A.
Despite a shaky start where India slipped to 126/4, valuable knocks from Ishan Kishan (77) and Tilak Varma (25) stabilized the innings. Late fireworks from Skipper Yadav, Shivam Dube, and Rinku Singh propelled the total to a competitive 175/7.
In response, Pakistan crumbled under pressure. Early strikes from Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Axar Patel reduced them to 34/4. Despite a fighting 44 from Usman Khan, the Pakistani batting lineup collapsed for just 114 runs in 18 overs.
With this emphatic result, India has extended its head-to-head lead over Pakistan in T20 World Cups to 8-1. While India remains unbeaten, Pakistan now sits in a precarious third position in the group, trailing behind the USA.
With Agency Inputs
