No place for Orange Cap contender Virat Kohli in Sanjay Manjrekar's list of 10 batters who have impressed him in IPL 2025

Former India cricketer-turned-commentator Sanjay Manjrekar on April 26 picked list of 10 batters who have scored big runs with great strike rate in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 so far. Since Virat Kohli's strike rate is below 150 in the ongoing edition, he did not include the second-highest-run scorerwho is in contention for the orange cap race.

Manjrekar's post on X-

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 159
Klassen : 288 runs SR 157
KL Rahul : 323 runs SR 154
Gill : 305 runs SR 153

Baffling exclusions

Meanwhile, Kohli has scored 392 runs from nine innings at an average of 65.33, including five half-centuries. His strike rate is 144.11. Similarly, Manjrekar did not include Gujarat Titans' (GT) Sai Sudharsan who currently holds the orange cap with 417 runs from eight innings at an average of 52.13, including five half-centuries. 

ALSO READ: 'He's not that involved': Suresh Raina slams CSK management for poor auction and horrendous run in IPL 2025

One batter who has missed the cut despite having a strike rate over 150 is LSG's Aiden Markram. He has 326 runs from nine innings at an average of 36.22, including four half-centuries. Rajasthan Royals (RR) opener Yashasvi Jaiswal is another batter who did not make the list. Jaiswal has scored 356 runs from nine innings at an average of 39.56, including four fifties. His strike rate is 148.95.

ALSO READ: 'Jadeja has got a useless strike rate, but at least try to...': Virender Sehwag tears into CSK all-rounder's approach after SRH defeat

Surprise inclusions 

Manjrekar's list includes a few batters who have not played a few match-winning knocks for their respective teams. Young Punjab Kings (PBKS) opener Priyansh Arya scored a sensational century but he is yet to find consistency. Then, Heinrich Klaasen's name is on the list as well. Klaasen's Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) are struggling to keep themselves in the playoffs race. 

Manjrekar also picked GT, Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) as three teams with best bowling attacks in the season.