Under the South African lights, a young Indian batter created history in the IPL, stepping ahead of the biggest stars
Before 2009, the IPL narrative was dominated by overseas stars, all of whom left remarkable marks on the scoreboards. Brendon McCullum dazzled the crowd with an incredible 158*, Adam Gilchrist showcased his brilliance, and Shaun Marsh lit up the arena with his Orange Cap in the first season—all of them intoxicatingly international. Indian players displayed promise, yes, but none had managed to conquer the elusive three-figure milestone until that memorable night on May 21, 2009.
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It was then that a relatively obscure 19-year-old, Manish Pandey, burst onto the scene, rewriting history with a knock that made every Indian fan stand up and cheer. His name wasn’t splashed across headlines, nor was he the sort of player that kept bowlers awake at night, strategizing ways to thwart him. Yet, under the lights of Centurion, he eclipsed all expectations and outshined them all—creating a moment that would echo through IPL’s history.
Walking out to open for Royal Challengers Bangalore against Deccan Chargers, Pandey experienced a few anxious moments. A mistimed shot here, an inside edge there—he wasn’t starting off smoothly. The Deccan bowlers were aggressive, the conditions were unfamiliar, and an early breakthrough seemed inevitable.
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Then came a twist. RP Singh misjudged a catch at third man, granting Pandey a lifeline in the third over. That’s all he needed. From there, he began to find his rhythm, cutting, swatting, and flicking the ball to all parts of the ground.
By the 10th over, he had found his rhythm. Roelof van der Merwe’s (23) quick cameo relieved some pressure, but once he departed, the focus shifted entirely to Pandey. The 19-year-old refused to play second fiddle to anyone.
His first half-century arrived in style—with back-to-back sixes off T Suman’s off-spin. The wrist work, the knack for finding gaps, and the fearless approach all came together beautifully. What stood out was his dominance against both pace and spin. While Pragyan Ojha’s (32/2) turn troubled other batters, Pandey confidently stepped out and lofted him.
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By the 17th over, he was closing in on a hundred. The scoreboard displayed 98; the tension was palpable, but Pandey didn’t let it faze him. A well-placed push to long-on for two, and just like that, he had achieved it.
Pandey’s innings wasn’t just historic—it was match-winning. His 114* off 73 balls, featuring 10 fours and 4 sixes, helped RCB post a formidable 170/4. Despite Herschelle Gibbs’ 60, the Deccan Chargers fell short by 12 runs.
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Anil Kumble’s (18/2) bowling brilliance sealed the win, but the night belonged to Pandey. From a near-dismissal in the third over to carrying his bat until the end, he played one of the most memorable knocks in IPL history.
From that historic night in Centurion to his final IPL outing in 2025, Manish Pandey’s journey in the league was marked by resilience and consistency. As the first Indian to score an IPL century, he carried that promise throughout his career, amassing 3,869 runs in 172 matches.
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Although he never repeated the three-figure feat, his 22 half-centuries, along with 337 fours and 111 sixes, demonstrated his ability to anchor innings and accelerate when needed.
