- Thursday, February 27, 2025
By: Shubham Ghosh
HE is not new to controversies. In the past, Sanjay Manjrekar faced the music over his controversial remarks on a current India player. And now, the former India middle-order batter has been brutally trolled over yet another remark on Twitter, this time on the Indian Premier League (IPL) auction.
On Monday (13), as India’s cash-rich T20 tournament scaled new heights in terms of monetary gains, the 56-year-old remarked, “The IPL auction revealing the obvious. The might of the Indian economy! And as Indians, let us be proud of it! #IPLAuction”
The IPL auction revealing the obvious. The might of the Indian economy! And as Indians, let us be proud of it!#IPLAuction
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) June 13, 2022
Not many Indians were impressed with Manjrekar’s equating the IPL auction with the Indian economy.
ALSO READ: IPL: 2 separate broadcasters bag media rights pegged at £4.6b
While some advised the cricketer-turned-commentator to learn more about the economy, some mocked him saying his vehicle doesn’t run on “national pride”.
Unfortunately my car doesn’t run on national pride.
— Kajol Srinivasan (@LOLrakshak) June 13, 2022
Start learning economy.https://t.co/fhebGh3wP9
— ????? ????? (@GujSagar) June 14, 2022
There were also others who gave Manjrekar a reality check.
Asia’s richest man bags IPL cricket digital rights for £2b
“I am sure we have plenty to be proud of without some money bags spending obscene amount of money on a game, when millions cannot afford 3 meals a day,” said one user.
I am sure we have plenty to be proud of without some money bags spending obscene amount of money on a game, when millions cannot afford 3 meals a day.https://t.co/LmI5dYHP7L
— ג׳יקוב | |یعقوب | ജേക്കബ് | Jacob (@Jacobji01) June 14, 2022
Another said, “Might of the indian economy? Might of an economy is when the lowest or the lower strata of the population is economically stable. Not when corporates pay billions to aquire rights of a sports event. But then kuch toh log kahenge… Logon ka kaam hai kehenaa.. (people will anyhow say, it is what they do)”
Might of the indian economy? Might of an economy is when the lowest or the lower strata of the population is economically stable. Not when corporates pay billions to aquire rights of a sports event. But then kuch toh log kahenge… Logon ka kaam hai kehenaa..
— Subodh Bhat (@BhatSubodh) June 13, 2022
“Bit much to talk about the economy no? With rampant unemployment and the rupee plummeting by the day?” another user taunted the former batter.
Bit much to talk about the economy no? With rampant unemployment and the rupee plummeting by the day?
— Kartik Venkat ????⚽ (@kartik_venkat) June 14, 2022
“Do you know how many families sleep hungry stomach due to unemployment in our country?” asked another.
Do you know how many families sleep hungry stomach due to unemployment in our country?
— fREE sPIRIT (@amitsaxena_) June 14, 2022
On Monday, veteran Indian journalist Rajdeep Sardesai also spoke on the matter on Twitter, saying, “On a day when IPL tv/digital rights are sold for a record Rs 44,075 crores just for 410 matches or over Rs 105 cr per match, rupee slides to a new low, markets are down, eco outlook remains uncertain. Only thing immune to economic shocks it seems is cricket!”
On a day when IPL tv/digital rights are sold for a record Rs 44,075 crores just for 410 matches or over Rs 105 cr per match, rupee slides to a new low, markets are down, eco outlook remains uncertain. Only thing immune to economic shocks it seems is cricket! ?
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) June 13, 2022
The media rights for the IPL for five-year cycle starting 2023 was closely contested by some of the country’s top sports broadcasters and eventually, the television and digital rights were won separately by two broadcasters, the country’s news sources reported.
They said that the prices of the television and digital rights were pegged at Rs 44,075 crore (£4.6 billion) and that put the valuation of each game in the cash-rich tournament at more than Rs 100 crore (£10.5 million), something which has not been seen in Indian sports before.
Disney-Star retained the broadcasting rights for Rs 57.5 crore (£6 million) a match or Rs 23,575 crore (£2.4 billion) and Reliance-backed Jio got the digital rights for Rs 50 crore (£5.2 million) a match.
