Virat Kohli's brother Vikas tore into recent criticisms directed at the former captain following his departure from Test cricket. The backlash comes in the wake of comments made by former cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar, who expressed disappointment over Kohli’s decision to retire from the longest format. Manjrekar suggested that instead of ending his red-ball journey prematurely, Kohli should have displayed more resolve and persistence in working through his recent struggles to rediscover his peak form.
In a pointed response shared on the social media platform Threads, Vikas Kohli criticized those he believes are using his brother’s name to maintain their own public relevance. He remarked that certain individuals seemingly cannot sustain their personal or professional lives without constantly discussing the star batter. While he did not explicitly name Manjrekar, the timing of the post led fans and social media observers to speculate that the message was a direct swipe at the commentator’s latest critique.
ALSO READ: Explained: What is Testicular Torsion? The medical emergency behind Tilak Varma’s sudden surgery
Virat Kohli's brother strong retort after Sanjay Manjrekar's remark
The exchange highlights the ongoing tension between Kohli's inner circle and a segment of the media that has been critical of his career choices in the twilight of his international stint.
"Seems like logon ki daal roti nahi chalti bina Virat Kohli ka naam liye hue. (Seems like people cannot run their households without feeding on Virat Kohli's name)," Vikas wrote on Threads.
Vikas has previously challenged Sanjay Manjrekar’s critiques, most notably when he defended his brother against the commentator's remarks regarding Virat’s strike rate during the IPL. This latest social media post continues that history of protective advocacy, reinforcing the divide between Kohli’s camp and those who have been vocal about his late-career transition.
ALSO READ: Sri Lanka rope in former India's batting coach ahead of T20 World Cup 2026
Virat Kohli's red-hot form in ODIs
Away from the off-field debates, Kohli has been in exceptional form in the 50-over format. Entering the upcoming series against New Zealand, he played a pivotal role in India’s 2-1 series victory over South Africa in December 2025. Kohli dominated the scoring charts, amassing 302 runs across three matches with scores of 135, 102, and an unbeaten 65, finishing as the leading run-getter and proving his enduring value in ODI cricket.
In a rare move to maintain his rhythm, Kohli also returned to domestic duty for Delhi in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for the first time in nearly 15 years. He made an immediate impact, smashing a century (131 off 101 balls) against Andhra and following it up with a sharp 77 off 61 balls against Gujarat. These performances not only helped Delhi secure key wins but also allowed Kohli to become the fastest player to reach 16,000 List A runs, surpassing a record previously held by Sachin Tendulkar.
The excitement surrounding the star batter reached a fever pitch on January 7, when he arrived in Vadodara for the start of the New Zealand series. Fans gathered in massive numbers at the airport to catch a glimpse of the legend, prompting authorities to deploy significant security reinforcements to manage the frenzy. All eyes will be Kohli in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand, which is slated to get underway from January 11.