Manish Pandey—The Stylish Batsman Who Rewrote IPL History

Full Name: Manish Krishnanand Pandey
Nickname(s): Mani, Pandu, Manish Bhai (thru Karnataka teammates)
Date of Birth: 10 September 1989
Age (as of 2025): 35 Years
Place of Birth: Nainital, Uttarakhand, India
Nationality: Indian
Profession: International Cricketer (Right-Hand Batsman)
Batting Style: Right-hand Bat
Bowling Style: Right-arm Off Break (Occasional)
Role in Team: Top/Middle-Order Batsman, Agile Fielder, Anchor-Finisher

Early Life & Background

Manish Pandey turned out to be born in Nainital but grew up in multiple towns due to his father’s profession within the Indian Army. His family ultimately settled in Bengaluru, in which his cricketing journey absolutely started.

Coming from a disciplined Army household, Manish inherited values like fitness, religion, punctuality, and highbrow durability at a younger age. His father identified his ardor and enrolled him in cricket training camps.

Cricketing Roots

Manish was a professional in Karnataka’s well-known cricket academies and quickly made waves on the faculty and in the United States ranges. He represented:

Karnataka Under-15
Karnataka Under-17
India Under-19

He has come to be, moreover, a part of the 2008 U-19 World Cup pool, the identical batch that produced Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, and KL Rahul (from Karnataka).

Early Challenges

Despite his abilities, breaking into the Karnataka senior team wasn’t clean due to the reality that Karnataka was modified to be full of large names like

Rahul Dravid
Gautam Gambhir (performed in brief)
Robin Uthappa
Vinay Kumar

But Manish’s relentless consistency has driven him into the Ranji organization with the useful resource of his early 20s.

Rise to Fame: First Indian to Score an IPL Century (Expanded)

The second that changed Manish Pandey’s existence got here in IPL 2009, at some point of the occasion’s South Africa version. Playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore, Manish scored:

114 off seventy-three balls*

in the direction of Deccan Chargers

This made him:

The First Indian Cricketer EVER to Score a Century within the IPL.

His century has now become not a nice report; it proved that extra younger Indian gamers need to compete with worldwide stars. He has now become a fan favorite and one of India’s most promising batting abilities.

The innings featured:

Elegant cover drives
Sweeps & opposite sweeps
Confident lofted images
Quick on foot among wickets

His knock helped RCB qualify for the semi-finals and mounted him as an extended-term IPL prospect.

Domestic Cricket Career

Manish Pandey has been the spine of the Karnataka cricket institution for more than a decade. He led Karnataka to multiple titles:

Major Domestic Achievements

Ranji Trophy winner
Vijay Hazare Trophy winner
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy winner
Regular performer for India A
Manish is thought of for stepping up in stressful conditions, gambling wholesome savings, and winning knocks. His calmness on the crease and robust temperament earned him the popularity of a dependable and fashionable batsman.

International Debut & Career

ODI Debut: 14 july 2015 vs Zimbabwe
T20I Debut: 17 July 2015 vs Zimbabwe
Although his opportunities for India got here little by little, Manish made memorable contributions on every occasion he has been given the chance.
Career-Defining International Knock

In 2016 in Sydney, Manish Pandey produced his exceptional worldwide innings:

104 vs Australia*

Guiding India to victory in an excessive-scoring chase.

This innings showcased:

Superb composure
Impeccable timing
Ability to chase below pressure
Mature shot choice

Manish quickly earned the popularity of a first-rate anchor-chaser, frequently in contrast to game enthusiasts like Suresh Raina and Ajinkya Rahane in terms of temperament.

Why Manish Pandey Was Valued via India

Quick between the wickets
Excellent towards spin
One of the fittest gamers
Brilliant fielder
Can stabilize or boost up innings

He finished multiple India A tours and captained India A several instances, earning praise from coaches like Rahul Dravid.

IPL Career

Manish Pandey is one of the most steady and professional IPL players. Over the years, he has performed for crucial IPL franchises:

Teams Played For:

Royal Challengers Bangalore
Mumbai Indians
Kolkata Knight Riders
Sunrisers Hyderabad
Lucknow Super Giants
Delhi Capitals

IPL Highlights:

First Indian to attain an IPL century
Man of the Match in IPL 2014 Final for KKR
Consistently ranked among pinnacle fielders
One of the quickest runners in IPL
Highly valued in a couple of auctions
Manish’s capability to bat at any function—from starting to middle-order—made him a bendy, dependable asset for corporations.

Personal Life

Marital Status: Married

Wife: Ashrita Shetty (Actress)

The couple gotmarried on 2 December 2019 in Mumbai. Their wedding changed into an attended event via cricketers, film stars, and close friends. Manish and Ashrita are regarded for preserving their personal life as private, sharing only occasional glimpses on social media.

Personality Traits:

Calm and composed
Extremely disciplined
Reserved off-vicinity
Highly health-aware

He has the idea to keep away from controversies and hold a low-profile manner of lifestyle.

Playing Style

Manish Pandey is a fashionable right-handed batsman acknowledged for:

Batting Strengths

Fluent cover drives
Strong returned-foot play
Quick singles and doubles
Aggressive reasoning as soon as set
Ability to rotate strike successfully

Fielding Excellence

He appeared as taken into consideration and is considered one of India’s amazing fielders:

Sharp reflexes
Safe pair of palms
Outstanding athleticism
Lightning-speedy throw

Versatile Roles

Can open the innings
Can assemble long partnerships
Can end innings in fashion

His approach makes him powerful in each purple-ball and white-ball cricket.

Records & Achievements

First Indian player to reap an IPL century
Man of the Match in the 2014 IPL Final
Consistent performer in home cricket
Multiple-time Ranji Trophy champion
Central parent in Karnataka’s golden era
One of the fittest cricketers in India
Captained India A and Karnataka
Known for extraordinary fielding performances

Net Worth (as of 2025)

Approx. ₹forty–₹forty-five Crore INR

Income Sources:

IPL contracts
Domestic tournaments
BCCI healthful expenses (in advance)
Advertisements & endorsements
Fitness & sports sports brands
Investments and personal ventures

Manish has been one of the higher-paid uncapped game enthusiasts in plenty of IPL seasons.

Hobbies & Interests

Gym & Fitness Training
Traveling with family
Adventure sports sports sports activities
Listening to music
PS5 and console gaming
Social artwork (helps younger cricketers)
Photography (personal hobby)

Manish’s idea for his ardour for staying wholesome frequently motivates more youthful gamers through schooling classes.

Conclusion

Manish Pandey is one of India’s most elegant and absolutely talented cricketers. His historic IPL century, match-triumphing knocks for India, and brilliant home performances make him a reputable name in Indian cricket.

An aggregate of beauty, athleticism, and situation, Manish’s journey—from an Army toddler to an IPL massive name and worldwide in-shape winner—continues to inspire thousands of greater youthful cricketers in the course of America.

Despite ups and downs, he remains: