Pandey made his ODI debut for India on July 14, 2015, against Zimbabwe
Manish Pandey's journey began in the scenic hills of Nainital. At 15, he moved to Bangalore with his family. His father, an Indian Army man, was later posted to Rajasthan. But Manish stayed back, pursuing his cricketing dreams. His dedication paid off as he excelled for Karnataka at Under-17 and Under-19 levels.
His big break? Scoring the first IPL century by an Indian while playing for Royal Challengers Bangaluru (then Bangalore). A star was born. Let's recall his historic achievements as we celebrate his 35th birthday today.
Manish pandey was completely unknown then he broke the became first indian centurion of ipl ahead of many big names pic.twitter.com/hyqV9KIfxA
— Last Human (@pLastHuman) July 18, 2021
At just nineteen, Manish made history. Playing for Royal Challengers Bangalore, he struck a brilliant 100 in just 67 balls. The stage? SuperSport Park, Centurion. It took 115 IPL matches for an Indian to reach this milestone.
Pandey did it with flair. Before this, people knew him as part of Virat Kohli's Under-19 World Cup-winning team in 2008. But after that day, Pandey was no longer just a name. He became a sensation, a young star etched into IPL history.
The First Indian IPL Centurion.
— Venky (@Venky_DK) September 10, 2020
Happy Birthday Brad Manish Pandey. #ManishPandey pic.twitter.com/d9sJ4dvr15
Pandey's innings began slowly. Opening with South African legend Jacques Kallis, he struggled at first. Twice, inside edges off Ryan Harris almost cost him his wicket. On just two runs, he attempted an uppercut that flew to third man and into RP Singh's hands.
Luck favoured him as Singh lost sight of the ball, which raced to the boundary—that moment calmed Pandey's nerves. Destiny had a plan. What followed was an innings of pure brilliance. He cut fiercely, swept spinners with authority, and drove with elegance. A rocky start transformed into a masterclass of control and skill.
Smart, calculated risks defined Pandey's knock. After the first timeout, he took on part-time spinner Tirumalsetti Suman, smashing two sixes. He stood tall, swiping RP Singh on the up while pulling Pragyan Ojha with precision. It wasn't just power; Pandey's sublime timing was vital. He guided Jaskaran Singh effortlessly to the boundary, then launched him over mid-wicket for six.
A fortunate inside edge even escaped Adam Gilchrist. By the 18th over, Pandey was on 98. His century (117 off 73) came with a couple of runs wide off long on. An unlikely opener, Pandey delivered big, guiding RCB to a total of 170.
Bangalore was in for a difficult task. They needed to prevent the Deccan Chargers from reaching the target in 11.2 overs to stay in the tournament. A win would move them up to third place, and a defeat would bring them down to fourth. After a courageous battle, RCB defeated DC by 12 runs, holding them to 158/6 in 20 overs.
After his standout IPL season with Bangalore in 2009, Manish continued to grind hard in domestic cricket. His consistency with Karnataka helped him mature as a player. One of his most crucial knocks came in the IPL 2014 final when he played for Kolkata Knight Riders. Pandey's 94-run gem against Punjab sealed the title for Kolkata.
This earned him a well-deserved call-up to the Indian side, where he showcased his elegance at the crease. Pandey is a flexible player who adjusts his batting to suit the team's needs. His fielding, determination, and experience make him a key figure in both domestic cricket and the IPL. As of 2024, he has played 171 matches and scored 3850 runs in the IPL.
Pandey made his ODI debut for India on July 14, 2015, against Zimbabwe. He impressed immediately, scoring 71 runs and forging a crucial 144-run partnership with Kedar Jadhav, who made 105. This duo led India to victory. But Pandey's true international breakout came six months later in Sydney.
In January 2016, he played an unforgettable inning. His unbeaten maiden century helped India chase down Australia's massive total of 330 with just two balls left. That knock not only won a match but also prevented a series of whitewashes.
