Born on September 10, 1989, in Nainital, Uttarakhand, Manish Pandey moved to Karnataka at a young age where he began honing his cricketing skills. A right-handed batsman, he emerged as a reliable middle-order player in domestic cricket, representing Karnataka. His technical soundness and composed batting style quickly made him a standout performer in the domestic circuit.

Personal Life

Off the field, Manish Pandey leads a quiet life. He is married to actress Ashrita Shetty. Known for his disciplined lifestyle and love for adventure sports, Pandey maintains peak fitness and stays grounded despite his achievements.

Breakthrough in the IPL

Pandey rose to fame during the 2009 Indian Premier League (IPL) season with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). He made headlines by becoming the first Indian to score a century in the IPL, hitting an unbeaten 114 off 73 balls. This knock not only made history but also solidified his reputation as a rising star in Indian cricket.

In the 2025 season, Pandey continues his IPL journey with Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), retained for ₹75 lakhs. Over the years, he has been part of several IPL franchises, bringing experience and stability to every team he has represented.

IPL Career and Franchise Transitions

Pandey’s IPL career began in 2008 with Mumbai Indians but gained momentum the following year with RCB. His consistent performance saw him picked by Pune Warriors India between 2011–2013, and then by KKR from 2014–2016, where he played key innings in the middle order.

Pandey got regarded as one of the highly paid Indian cricketers from 2018. With hits under pressure forming major chunks of his value, subsequently playing for Sunrisers Hyderabad and Lucknow Super Giants before once again promoting KKR.

International Career Highlights

Pandey made his debut for the Indian national cricket team in the year 2015, during an ODI against Zimbabwe, wherein he scored a match-winning hundred. Since then, his appearances have been sporadic, yet he can perform well under pressure, be it in limited-overs ODIs or T20s. His steady batting, ability to hold stability and carry forward innings add depth to the Indian middle order.
He was the part of India’s maiden U-19 World Cup-winning squad in 2008, laying a foundation for his glittering career early on.

Key Achievements

First Indian to score a century in the IPL (2009)
Match-winning century in only his third ODI for India (2015)
Part of India’s record sixth-wicket partnership in ODIs alongside MS Dhoni
Key role in India’s victory in the 2018 Nidahas Trophy final against Bangladesh