"Your speed gun requires urgent servicing" - Vinay Kumar gives a brutal response to Sanjay Manjrekar over '120 kmph' comment on Day 3 of Perth Test
Former Indian pacer R Vinay Kumar hit back at Sanjay Manjrekar after the latter referred to him as '120 kmph' bowler on Day 3 of the India vs Australia Test in Perth on Sunday, November 24. During a discussion on pace bowlers and pitches in India, Manjrekar opined that players like Vinay Kumar topped bowling charts because of the amount of grass on the surface.
India continued to dominate the Perth Test on Day 3. Tons from Yashasvi Jaiswal and Virat Kohli allowed them to declare their second innings on 487-6. Set a target of 534, Australia were reduced to 12-3 by stumps.
While India's brilliant performance on Day 3 in Perth grabbed headlines, commentator Manjrekar found himself amid yet another controversy in the wake of his comments on former India pacer Vinay Kumar.
While discussing the development of fast bowlers in India and also how the level of grass on pitches in the country was regulated at the domestic level, Manjrekar said (as quoted by news agency ANI):
"...But I think that's gone, but what it also did was medium pacers like the Vinay Kumars, with no disrespect to him, were topping the wicket-taking charts because all they needed to do with grass on the pitch was put the ball at 120 kmph in the right area, and they got wicket."
Responding to Manjrekar's comments, Vinay Kumar took to his X handle to share his thoughts. Taking a swipe at the former cricketer, he wrote:
"Sanjay bhai with due respect, your speed gun requires urgent servicing. 120KMPH, seriously? With God's grace I take pride in my achievements, I am contented, satisfied and happy with my life. A medium pacer like Vinay Kumar has worked really hard to become the 1st Indian fast bowler to take 100 IPL wickets, also played for the country in all the formats. I take pride in my bowling. Anyways best wishes and regards."
Manjrekar is no stranger to controversies and keeps finding himself in the firing line often. Recently, Team India pacer Mohammed Shami also hit back at him over his prediction that the bowler's price tag at the IPL auction might see a drop.
Who is R Vinay Kumar?
Vinay Kumar is a former India pacer, who represented the country in one Test, 31 ODIs, and nine T20Is between 2010 and 2013. He claimed one wicket in the only Test match he played against Australia at the WACA in January 2012.
The 40-year-old picked up 38 scalps in one-dayers, averaging 37.44, with a best of 4-30. In T20Is, he claimed 10 wickets at an average of 24.70, with a best of 3/24. The Karnataka pacer featured in 139 first-class matches, picking up 504 wickets at an average of 22.44, with 26 five-wicket hauls.