"Runs that matter": Manjrekar snubs Kohli, Sudharsan in a bizarre IPL 2025 list

Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has come up with a controversial take on the ongoing IPL edition. In a peculiar observation, Manjrekar noted that only the runs scored at a healthy strike rate are the "runs that matter" in IPL 2025. Currently, Sai Sudharsan, with 417 runs in 8 matches, holds the Orange Cap. The Gujarat Titans opener has accumulated these runs at a strike rate of 152.18 and an impressive average of 52.12. However, the young opener did not make it into the list shared by Manjrekar, which highlights the batters who have made the most impact in the season so far.

Sanjay Manjrekar irks fans with his list of "best batters" in IPL 2025

When it comes to batting only list that matters.Big runs with great SR so far.

Pooran : 377 runs SR 205

Priyansh Arya : 254 runs SR 202

Shreyas : 263 runs SR 185

Surya : 373 runs SR 167

Buttler : 356 runs SR 166

Mitchell Marsh : 344 runs SR 161

Travis Head: 261 runs SR…

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) April 26, 2025

“When it comes to batting only list that matters,” posted Manjrekar on his X account. “Big runs with great SR so far.” 

Manjrekar went on to list some of the star performers of IPL 2025 so far, headlined by names such as Nicholas Pooran, Shreyas Iyer, and Jos Buttler. In the list shared by Sanjay Manjrekar in a post on X, the batter excluded the likes of Virat Kohli, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Sai Sudharsan. While talking about the best batters in IPL 2025 so far, Manjrekar brought strike rate into the discussion. The T20 format has surely evolved to a phase where strike rate matters significantly.

Chennai Super Kings, nearly eliminated from IPL 2025, face remarkable scrutiny as their batting order fails to meet the demands of the fiery onslaught typical of the format. However, every team builds its attack based on its strengths and weaknesses. Moreover, victories depend on the gameplay a team adapts to according to specific conditions and match situations.

Virat Kohli, who is second on the list of most runs in IPL 2025, explained his role following RCB's first victory at home. The former skipper noted that as victories constantly eluded them at Chinnaswamy in IPL 2025, the team devised a plan. It involved Kohli adapting to an anchor role, while the other batters were instructed to attack from the other end.

As for Sai Sudharsan, fans and the cricketing fraternity are well aware of how much the GT batting lineup relies on the top order. Shubman Gill, Jos Buttler, and Sai Sudharsan have shouldered the responsibility so far, as Gujarat Titans currently sit atop the IPL 2025 points table.

Thus, Manjrekar's argument falls flat, as his list of best batters excluded the top run getters of the season so far. As his opinion stirred controversy, fans also questioned the inclusion of players like Travis Head, who, while boasting an impressive strike-rate, averages just 29 this season. Meanwhile, Kohli, who may have a lower strike-rate of 144, is averaging an outstanding 65, making his exclusion even more contentious.

Although strike-rate is often viewed as a key metric in T20s, many fans pointed out that the impact model, which considers the context of runs scored, balls faced, and match situations, paints a different picture. By those standards, both Sudharsan and Kohli rank among the best batters of IPL 2025. While Kohli and Sudharsan have consistently delivered at the top with five half-centuries each, others like Nicholas Pooran, Shreyas Iyer, and Mitchell Marsh, who had blazing starts to the season, have seen a drop-off in recent games.