Manjrekar Revisits ‘Bits and Pieces’ Remark, Clarifies Role of Jadeja and Shami

Former India cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has revisited the much-debated “bits and pieces” row involving Ravindra Jadeja during the 2019 World Cup. His remark at the time sparked a strong reaction from Jadeja, who felt disrespected, and the controversy became one of the most talked-about off-field moments of that tournament.

Manjrekar now admits that the remark was misunderstood. He explained that his comments were never meant as a personal attack on Jadeja’s skills but were instead part of a larger discussion about India’s team balance. Interestingly, he revealed that Mohammed Shami was also indirectly connected to the debate. According to Manjrekar, his analysis was focused on the strategic choice between playing specialists like Shami or opting for all-rounders such as Jadeja who could contribute in multiple departments.

The controversy, however, gained momentum when Jadeja responded strongly and later played a heroic knock in the semifinal against New Zealand, proving his immense value to the team. Since then, Jadeja has evolved into one of India’s most reliable all-rounders, excelling with bat, ball, and in the field.

Manjrekar has since acknowledged Jadeja’s brilliance and admitted that his words could have been chosen more carefully. He emphasized that the spat was more about a tactical debate than questioning Jadeja’s ability. With both Jadeja and Shami continuing to shine for India, the focus today is firmly back on their performances rather than past controversies.