Former Indian cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has sparked a significant debate among cricket fans, asserting that T20 must not be given the same World Cup status as the 50-over ODI World Cup.
The debate is significant since the 10th edition of the T20 World Cup is just around the corner, starting February 7.
Sanjay Manjrekar Argues T20 is not the same as 50 overs World Cup
In a January 29 post, Sanjay Manjrekar presented his personal views on T20, which turned controversial in the cricketing world. Manjrekar posted that in his eyes, T20 is not the Cricket World Cup, asserting that only the 50-over World Cup will hold that status.
“For me, the ‘Cricket World Cup’ will always be the 50-over World Cup.”
Notably, this is not the first time Manjrekar has taken this kind of stance. Last week, he also presented a similar stance after India lost in the ODI series against New Zealand. He claimed that the ODI series doesn’t carry as much importance as the bigger events like 50 overs World Cup while comforting cricket fans.
“Honestly, in 50-overs cricket today, what really matters are the World Cups and not even the Champions Trophy,”
Although this was an attempt to lighten up the devastated fan, it shows his preference for the tournaments.
Why Sanjay Manjrekar Refuses to Call T20 Cricket a World Cup?
Manjrekar explained his stance on this with the frequency and historical weight of the two formats. He argues that the T20 World Cup takes place every two years, whereas the 50-over World Cup happens once a year, giving it the rarity and prestige value.
“The T20 version held every two years must not be given the same status as a World Cup that comes once in 4 years. I prefer the original name for it – The WorldT20.’
Although Manjrekar has not clearly stated additional reasons for this argument, a few people suggested that the T20 version’s return to the original WorldT20 could remove the confusion in all these tournaments.
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Experts also note that Sanjay Manjrekar, who was part of India’s World Cup campaigns in 1992 and 1996 and appeared in 11 matches, echoes similar sentiments to Rohit Sharma. The former Indian captain also keeps the 50-overs World Cup in the highest regard despite winning the T20 World Cup.
When did WorldT20 become the T20 World Cup?
WorldT20 became the T20 World Cup in the 2021 edition, when it was held in the UAE after a five-year gap. Before that, the term WorldT20 was in use for the first six editions: 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, and 2016.
Public Reaction to Sanjay Manjrekar’s Post
Manjrekar’s post met with sharp pushback from the public. One account replies to his post with “With due respect, Sir …change is the law of nature …ODI World Cup does not have the same appeal as T20 World Cup…the young generation doesn’t have time or patience to watch an ODI match. T20 is the only way cricket can compete with other popular sports.”
Another presented a comparison with global events like F1 and Wimbledon, which happen every year, and still carry great status. He says, “This has higher status now as it is more difficult to win as there are a lot more competitive countries …even minnows can be dangerous…number of years doesn’t matter…global tournaments like F1, Wimbledon, etc. happen every year…does it mean they are not high status?”
Some also resonated with Manjrekar’s views; one asked for a 3-year breathing space, claiming early events take up the joy of winning.
“We saw upsets in ODIs too. If t20 wc is as important, at least 3 years’ breathing space is required. A wc every 1.5 to 1.8 years makes no sense and takes away the joy of winning as well. Doesn’t give other teams a chance to catch up.”