Manish Pandey has gotten attention again, but this time it’s because he’s been around for a long time, not just because of a lot of publicity. He’s only the third player (after Kohli and Sharma) to have been in all 19 seasons of the IPL. That’s incredibly consistent for over fifteen years.
Why this milestone stands out
The players he’s alongside make his achievement even more important. Kohli has always played for the same team, and Rohit has played for two, but Pandey, who is now 37, has had a completely different experience. He’s been on a lot of teams, yet he’s been on the team list for every single season.
He has played for Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pune Warriors India, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Lucknow Super Giants, Delhi Capitals, and KKR. The variety of teams he’s been with demonstrates that they have all continued to find a place for him, even as the players and the way they play changed.
Defining knocks that shaped a career
Statistics show how long he’s played, but it’s the important moments that demonstrate his worth. In 2009, while playing for RCB, Pandey first became noticed with a fantastic 114 not out. He was the first Indian to get a century in the IPL. An innings like that makes coaches and captains think about a player in a different way.
His most memorable contribution was for KKR in a championship game. He scored a wonderful 94 off 50 balls in the 2014 final, and that heavily swung the win to KKR, solidifying his image as someone who plays well in big games. He later rejoined KKR and helped them win the championship again in 2024.
Here are the turning points that still echo in Kolkata and beyond:
– First Indian IPL century, 114* in 2009
– 94 off 50 in the 2014 final for KKR
– Part of KKR’s title-winning run in 2024
The numbers behind the veteran
In his 174 IPL games, Pandey has scored 3,942 runs. That total includes 22 times he’s reached fifty, and that important century. He was in good shape recently too; he scored 92 runs in three games last season, averaging 46 with a strike rate of 141.54.
Those numbers suggest he can still change how fast he scores. He might not be the one finishing off most chases, but he provides balance, understanding of the game, and he can either take the pressure or start scoring more quickly when the game is changing.
KKR’s selection call and its logic
Manish Pandey replacing Ramandeep Singh in KKR’s starting eleven is because of how he is playing and what his role is, not because of any fondness for him. As KKR has shown with their choices this season, they are going with what is happening in the games and what each player is supposed to do.
Two factors likely shaped the switch:
– Ramandeep managed only 82 runs in six innings at a strike-rate just over 120
– Rinku Singh’s rise, alongside Rovman Powell, strengthened finishing options
By putting Pandey back into the middle of the batting order, KKR seem to be depending on his experience during the early-to-middle overs, and trusting Rinku and Powell to finish the game. It’s a change made to keep the main part of the batting strong while keeping the ability to score quickly at the end.
What this means for KKR now
The first advantage is having more options. With players who finish games already in place, a more experienced player can build partnerships, take advantage of specific bowlers, and set the speed of the game for the later stages. For a team trying to win the championship, those overs in the middle are often what decide how close the game is.
The bigger picture is about lasting at the highest level for a long time. Being in all 19 seasons of the league, after Kohli and Rohit, puts Pandey in a rare category. It shows that teams have trusted him to be selected over many different eras, on many different pitches, and with many different plans.
This achievement reminds fans that IPL careers aren’t only about huge numbers of runs. They are about showing up, remaining important, and performing when it really matters. Pandey’s career has all of those things, and KKR think he has more to offer.
