Manish Pandey: Cricketer

Manish Pandey was born on 10 September 1989 in Nainital, Uttarakhand, India. Although born in Uttarakhand, he spent most of his childhood in Bengaluru, Karnataka, after his family relocated there. Having grown up, studied, and developed his cricket career in Bengaluru, it is widely regarded as his hometown.

Coming from a disciplined family, Pandey learned the values of hard work and dedication at an early age. His father served in the Indian Army, while his mother played a vital role in supporting his education and cricketing ambitions. During his school years, he developed a passion for cricket and trained at local academies in Bengaluru, where his elegant batting, excellent timing, and athletic fielding quickly caught the attention of coaches.

His consistent performances in school and age-group cricket earned him opportunities to represent Karnataka at the junior level, establishing him as one of the state's brightest young talents. These performances laid the foundation for a successful professional career, eventually leading him to represent India and become the first Indian cricketer to score a century in IPL history.

Across his professional cricket career, Manish Pandey has established himself as one of India's most dependable middle-order batters. As of 2026, he has played 170+ IPL matches, scoring 3,700+ runs at an average of around 29 with a strike rate above 120. His IPL career includes 1 century and 22+ half-centuries, with a highest score of 114* – the historic innings that made him the first Indian cricketer to score a century in IPL history. In international cricket, he represented India in 29 ODIs and 39 T20Is, including a memorable unbeaten 104* against Australia in Sydney.

Note: Cricket statistics, IPL franchises, and team affiliations are updated regularly. The information above reflects Manish Pandey's career record and latest publicly available details as of the 2026 season.

The Manish Pandey cricket career is defined by consistency, resilience, and success across domestic cricket, international cricket, and the Indian Premier League (IPL). Representing Karnataka, he established himself as one of India's most dependable middle-order batters through his elegant batting, composure under pressure, and excellent fielding.

Pandey first gained national recognition after being selected for India's 2008 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup squad. He made his IPL debut in the inaugural 2008 season, but his breakthrough came in IPL 2009, when he scored an unbeaten 114* for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Deccan Chargers. The innings made him the first Indian cricketer to score a century in IPL history and remains one of the league's most iconic performances.

His impressive domestic and IPL performances earned him an India call-up in 2015, making his debut in both ODI and T20I cricket. One of the highlights of his international career came in 2016, when he scored a match-winning unbeaten 104* against Australia in Sydney.

Over the years, Manish Pandey has represented India, Karnataka, and several IPL franchises with distinction. His consistency, professionalism, and ability to perform in crucial matches have made his career one of the most respected journeys in modern Indian cricket.

Manish Pandey's net worth is estimated at ₹55–70 Crore (2026), approximately US$6.5–8 million. His wealth has been built through a successful career in international cricket, the Indian Premier League (IPL), domestic cricket, match fees, brand endorsements, and sponsorship deals.

A significant portion of his income comes from IPL contracts, where he has represented several franchises over the years. Apart from cricket, he has also earned through endorsement partnerships and commercial appearances. Although he is no longer a regular member of the Indian national team, his continued participation in domestic tournaments and franchise cricket ensures a steady source of income.

Many fans search for Manish Pandey's wife and family to know more about his personal life. Manish Pandey is married to Ashrita Shetty, a South Indian actress known for her work in Tamil cinema. The couple got married on 2 December 2019 in a private ceremony attended by family members, close friends, and several cricketers.

Pandey comes from a disciplined family background. His father served in the Indian Army, while his mother has always supported his cricketing journey. Growing up in such an environment helped him develop the discipline, dedication, and calm mindset that have become hallmarks of his career.

Manish Pandey etched his name into Indian cricket history during the 2009 Indian Premier League (IPL) when he became the first Indian cricketer to score a century in the tournament. Playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) against Deccan Chargers at Centurion on 21 May 2009, Pandey produced a breathtaking unbeaten 114 runs off 73 balls, an innings that included 10 fours and 4 sixes. His composed yet aggressive knock guided RCB to a commanding total and played a crucial role in securing a 12-run victory.

At a time when overseas players dominated the IPL's batting charts, Pandey's landmark century proved that Indian batters could also deliver match-winning performances on the biggest T20 stage. The innings remains one of the most iconic knocks in IPL history and marked the beginning of Manish Pandey's rise as one of India's most dependable middle-order batters. Even years later, his unbeaten 114* is remembered as a historic milestone that inspired a new generation of Indian cricketers and cemented his legacy as the first Indian IPL centurion.

Manish Pandey's IPL 2023 and IPL 2024 seasons remain among the most searched topics by cricket fans. During IPL 2023, his team was Delhi Capitals (DC), where he played as an experienced middle-order batter. His role was to add stability to the batting lineup, guide younger players, and provide crucial support during pressure situations. Although Delhi Capitals had a difficult season, Pandey's experience and calm approach made him an important part of the squad.

For IPL 2024, his team was Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Returning to one of the most successful franchises of his career, he brought valuable experience, leadership, and depth to the team. While he wasn't a regular starter in every match, his presence strengthened the squad, and he was part of KKR's IPL 2024 championship-winning campaign.

Many cricket fans search for Manish Pandey's jersey number, especially during IPL and international tournaments. While representing India, he wore jersey number 21 in ODIs and T20Is. In the IPL, his jersey number has varied across franchises, but during his time with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), he has worn jersey number 9. Although his jersey numbers have changed over the years, his elegant batting, athletic fielding, and calm temperament have remained consistent throughout his career.

• 🇮🇳 India Jersey Number: 21
• 🏏 IPL Jersey Number (KKR): 9 (Latest Confirmed Season)

As of 2026, Manish Pandey's current teams include both domestic and franchise cricket, where his experience continues to benefit younger players. He represents Karnataka in domestic cricket, playing a key role in the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In franchise cricket, Pandey is part of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL and has also represented Gulbarga Mystics in the Maharaja Trophy. Even after more than a decade at the highest level, he continues to contribute through his experience, leadership, and dependable batting.

Note: IPL franchise affiliations change frequently through annual auctions and trades; the information above reflects his team as of the 2026 season.

One of the most searched questions among cricket fans is "Why is Manish Pandey not in Team India?" Although Pandey produced several memorable performances for India, including a match-winning 104* against Australia, he gradually lost his place due to intense competition in India's middle order.

With players like Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, KL Rahul, Rishabh Pant, and Sanju Samson becoming regular members of the white-ball squads, opportunities for Pandey became limited. In addition, inconsistent performances during some international appearances made it difficult for him to secure a long-term place in the team.

Despite being out of the national side, Manish Pandey remains active in domestic cricket and the IPL, where his experience and consistency continue to make him a valuable player.

Manish Pandey's legacy goes beyond his impressive statistics. He is best known as the first Indian cricketer to score a century in IPL history, a milestone that inspired a new generation of Indian batters. His unbeaten 114* in IPL 2009 remains one of the tournament's most memorable innings.

Over the years, Pandey established himself as a dependable middle-order batter with exceptional fielding skills and a calm temperament under pressure. Alongside his contributions for India, he played a key role in Karnataka's domestic success and enjoyed a long, consistent career in the IPL. His professionalism, consistency, and longevity have earned him respect across Indian cricket.

• 🏏 First Indian cricketer to score an IPL century (114* in 2009).
• 🇮🇳 Represented India in both ODIs and T20Is.
• 💯 Scored a match-winning 104* against Australia in Sydney.
• 🏆 IPL champion with Kolkata Knight Riders.
• 📊 Played 170+ IPL matches and scored 3,700+ runs.
• ⭐ One of Karnataka's most successful domestic cricketers.
• ⚡ Recognized for outstanding fielding and consistency.

From a first-class landmark century in IPL 2009 to over a decade of consistent domestic and franchise cricket, Manish Pandey's journey remains a benchmark of resilience, professionalism, and longevity in Indian cricket.