Archive · 18 Aug 2026
Manjrekar, Kartik On-Air Banter Turns Ugly During India-Sri Lanka Test
Two famous cricket players who now talk about cricket on TV had a tense moment while the show was live.
Murali Kartik made a joke about how Sanjay Manjrekar makes a funny face with his lips when he talks on camera.
He asked Manjrekar to try not to make that face so people could understand him better.
Manjrekar did not like the joke and made a joke back at Kartik.
He asked the TV crew to show another player, Ajinkya Rahane, instead of talking to Kartik.
Then Kartik said something about not looking at himself in the mirror, and it seemed like he was saying Manjrekar was the one who did.
The two kept trading sharp remarks, and people watching felt it was uncomfortable.
Manjrekar later said they had gone too far.
He guessed that people on the internet would talk about it a lot.
And he was right, because the moment became very popular on social media.
Sanjay Manjrekar and Murali Kartik were involved in an awkward on-air exchange during the lunch break on Day 3 of the first India-Sri Lanka Test in Galle.
Kartik joked that Manjrekar's famous pout made him difficult to understand and asked him to limit it.
Manjrekar responded by asking the production team to switch the camera to Ajinkya Rahane, who was making his international commentary debut.
Kartik fired back saying he does not look at himself in the mirror, suggesting Manjrekar did.
Manjrekar acknowledged the conversation was crossing the line and predicted social media would have a field day with the exchange.
- Who
- Former India cricketers and commentators Sanjay Manjrekar and Murali Kartik, with Ajinkya Rahane mentioned during the exchange.
- What
- An awkward on-air verbal exchange during live cricket commentary.
- When
- Lunch break on Day 3 of the first Test between India and Sri Lanka, on a Tuesday.
- Where
- Galle, during the first Test between India and Sri Lanka.
- Why
- Kartik joked about Manjrekar's pout, and Manjrekar responded sharply, escalating the banter.
- Event
- First Test, India vs Sri Lanka
- Location
- Galle
- Timing
- Lunch break, Day 3
- Participants
- Sanjay Manjrekar and Murali Kartik
- Broadcaster
- Sony Sports Network
- Mentioned
- Ajinkya Rahane's international commentary debut
- Outcome
- Viral moment on social media
