A move that sparked intense debate in the Indian cricket landscape, the veteran commentator said Sanjay Manjrekar stepped forward to defend the head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Shubman Gill After India’s 2-1 ODI series loss to New Zealand. The final loss at the Holkar Stadium in Indore on 18 January 2026 secured the Blackcaps’ first ODI series win on Indian soil, a result many fans saw as a significant blow to the team’s reputation.
Despite the unfortunate events surrounding the defeat, Manjrekar offered a counter-narrative on his official Instagram account, urging the fraternity to keep perspective. Its defense is based on a philosophy that prioritizes global events above the noise of bilateral contests.
Sanjay Manjrekar defends Gautam Gambhir with surprising words on World Cup
Manjrekar’s main argument is that in the modern era of sports, 50-plus World Cups is the only indicator of true success. He went so far as to devalue other prestigious trophies, including trophies Champions Cup.
“To be honest, in 50-over cricket these days it’s the World Cups that really matter, not even the Champions TrophyManjrekar said. He urged the fans to remember the winners of the last Champions Trophy and suggested that the World Cup champions should be forgotten forever.
By labeling bilateral series as complimented by “warm-up games,” Manjrekar aims to shield Gambhir from increased scrutiny. Under Gambhir, the team has faced a string of inconsistent results in the ODI format, leading to questions about tactical rigor and squad experience.
However, Manjrekar believes that failure is actually beneficial now. “If you want to face your failures and poor performances, get it out of the system now, during the next World Cup.” he explained.
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Focus shifts to T20 World Cup defence
The timing of this defense is crucial as the Indian team immediately switches to the shortest format. On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, a Suryakumar Yadav-led India begin a five-match T20I series against the same New Zealand side. For Gambhir and the selection committee, these matches represent the final laboratory before India begin defending their T20 World Cup title at home in February.
The ODI loss to New Zealand highlighted the weaknesses in the middle order – despite a brave 124 Virat Kohli in the final — Manjrekar insists that current form is not always a predictor of World Cup success. He urged fans to allow management to experiment with line-up combinations without the “extraneous noise” of lopsided results. For Gambhir, Manjrekar’s support provides a necessary buffer against critics as the team tries to find its rhythm before taking center stage on the global stage.
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