Forgotten IPL OG: How Cricket Repaid Manisha Pandey in Kolkata

There is a certain breed of cricketer who never gets a biography, rarely gets a documentary, but always – always – seems to be around when it matters. Manish Pandey is that cricketer. KKR vs MI: Highlights | Scorecard

On Wednesday night at the Eden Gardens, in a must-win game against Mumbai Indians, he did what he has quietly done for two decades, contributed in every conceivable way, without fuss, without fanfare. Catch in the ring. Steady hand at the crease. 45 runs on the field which made scoring feel like a chore.

But before we get to the night itself, consider the number: 19.

Manish Pandey has appeared in all 19 seasons of the Indian Premier League. He shares this distinction with exactly three others – Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni. No need to introduce names. Between them they have amassed thousands of international appearances, World Cup medals and enough records to fill an encyclopedia.

Pandey, on the other hand, played 29 ODIs and 39 T20Is. His international career never caught the fire that anyone who watched him fire in his prime felt it should have. While his three contemporaries were climbing Everest, Pandey was quietly climbing smaller mountains—doing it over and over and over.

He has managed just 28 innings over the past six seasons. He last played a full IPL season in 2020 for Sunrisers Hyderabad. He is 36 years and 263 days old.

And it’s still here. He still prowls like a tiger.

Wednesday started before batting started. Pandey chased down a catch at the top of the circle – one high and swirling, one that younger fielders misjudge – settled under it with the calm authority of a man who has caught a thousand. Earlier in the season, he took a catch against RCB, who KKR assistant coach Shane Watson says will be in contention for Catch of the Season. Manish Pandey was on fire on the field (PTI Photo)

‘I’m not sure HOW HE DOES IT’

When Watson talks about Pandey, the admiration is unguarded.

“I’m not sure how he does it but he’s obviously an older lad. I know when I was his age I certainly didn’t move anything like he did in the field. He’s still incredibly fit. He’s prepared so beautifully for this IPL and he’s still one of our fittest and one of our best fielders.”

Pandey himself does not divulge the secret of the secret. Just relentless, unspectacular work.

“We probably end up batting for one hour and also spend about 45 minutes in the field every day relentlessly. It doesn’t matter if it’s raining or sunny. Because I don’t bowl, I enjoy fielding and I want to contribute – even from a single saving point of making great catches and run-outs. That’s been my forte.”

Then came the batting. KKR were chasing 148 on a surface where even the timing of the ball felt like a reward rather than a gift. They already lost Finn Allen for 8 points. Angkrish Raghuvanshi, the in-form youngster who had been dazzling throughout the season, was forced off with a concussion. Slot #3 has opened.

Pandey was stuffed from the first ball, watching, waiting – just like in the four matches before this one where he didn’t get to bat at all.

Now it was finally his turn.

“This was the only game I really hit,” he said afterward with a laugh that included four games of patient waiting. “I was stuffed and waiting to bat, but I didn’t get a chance. But I think this was a special event. I wanted to hang in there and hope our team wins, and that’s what happened.”

What followed was a masterclass in intelligent, experienced T20 batting. No sixes. Six borders. The rest of his 45 runs – from 33 balls – came from hard running, crisp singles and the kind of gap-finding you only develop in two decades of professional cricket. He accelerated when the moment called for it and anchored when it didn’t. KKR went from 48 for 3 and reeling to 118 for 4 and cruising. By the time Bumrah rattled the stumps, the job was pretty much done. Rovman Powell ended it with a flourish.

Watson watched from the basement and was not surprised.

“The positions he gets into, the freedom with the way he plays, the practice matches, the middle wickets – he batted so beautifully. Having the opportunity to bat at No. 3 today showed how well he bats. He did a beautiful job of steadying the ship for us.”

Then Watson added something that lands differently when you know what Pandey has endured: “The way he’s batting at the moment is as good as I’ve seen him bat in quite a while. So that’s exciting for him as an individual because he’s an incredibly good person – but also exciting for us at KKR.”

PANDEY CRICKET AWARDS

KKR are now on 13 points from 13 matches. A remarkable comeback for a side without a win in their first six. Pandey, the talisman in 2014 when KKR lifted the trophy, is still the heart of the team in 2026.

He was asked if maybe that history — that 2014 bond — is why the franchise keeps coming back to him.

“Yeah, maybe that’s why I’m still here,” he said with a smile. “It’s definitely a great feeling. KKR have been really nice and kind to me.”

Kindness is one word. But kindness alone does not explain why the 36-year-old still earns his place in the IPL squad on merit, outscoring fielders half his age and sustaining chases in knockout-equivalent games.

That, more than anything else, is the story of Manish Pandey. Not records he hasn’t broken. Not the caps he didn’t win. But the fact that he is still here – still running hard, still taking catches, still the man you want in the crease when the game is on the line.

Cricket, as they say, has a peculiar way of rewarding those who simply refuse to give up.

It did just that at Eden Gardens on Wednesday night.

– The end

Issued by:

Akshay Ramesh

Published on:

21 May 2026 08:29 IST