Former India cricketers Sanjay Manjrekar and Murali Kartik were involved in an awkward on-air exchange during the India vs Sri Lanka 1st Test in Galle on Tuesday, trading a series of pointed jibes at each other. Their war of words left former India batter Ajinkya Rahane and the show’s host visibly awkward as the banter took an uncomfortable turn.
Kartik began the exchange with a dig at Manjrekar, saying, “A gentle request and a big request from one and all. You have the pout of the century, but because of your pout, we are not able to understand what you say. So please limit that pout.”
Manjrekar was quick to hit back, suggesting the camera be switched to Kartik instead. “That’s a bad one. Can we make the split screen and shift the camera to the other guy? Because he’s a much more pleasant person to talk to and he’s got a much more pleasant face as well. I just wonder, ‘superb, superb, superb’, Murali Kartik’s voice, looking at himself in the mirror,” he said.
Kartik responded by turning the joke back on Manjrekar, insisting that he never looks at himself in the mirror. “I don’t look at myself, ever. That’s you. That is only you. If anyone knows you, that is only you, people who have played with you, people who have worked,” Kartik replied.
Manjrekar then delivered another pointed remark before acknowledging that the exchange could go too far. “Because there is an incentive, there is an incentive to look in the mirror. For you, I can understand it’s not very motivating, anyway. We are both going to cross lines here and social media will have a field day,” he said.
The awkward exchange came on a day when India strengthened their position in the opening Test. After posting 462 in their first innings, India bowled Sri Lanka out for 284 to take a 174-run lead.
India were then dismissed for 193 in their second innings, setting Sri Lanka a daunting 372-run target. KL Rahul, who scored 35, and Devdutt Padikkal, who made 44, put together a 64-run partnership as India looked to build a sizeable lead.
Rishabh Pant then provided the late impetus with a quickfire 66 off 69 balls, including two sixes. During his innings, Pant created history by becoming the first Indian batter to hit 100 sixes in Test cricket and the fastest player in the world to reach the landmark.
Sri Lanka’s chase got off to a difficult start, with the hosts losing four wickets before reaching 100, leaving India firmly in control of the contest.
