Even though Manish Pandey, the seasoned Indian batsman, might not be getting opportunities in international cricket currently, his batting prowess remains undiminished. Returning after a considerable hiatus, he effortlessly took on the bowlers. Playing in the Maharaja Trophy after a gap of nearly two and a half months since the IPL 2025 season, Manish Pandey’s batting display was so devastating that the bowlers were left with no answers. In the tournament’s opening match, the experienced batsman reached a half-century in a mere 25 balls.
Several Indian states are currently hosting T20 leagues, with the Karnataka State Cricket Association’s Maharaja Trophy T20 league commencing its new season on Monday, August 11. The second match of the season featured a clash between Mysore Warriors and Bengaluru Blasters. This match also marked the comeback of Mysore captain Manish Pandey, whose previous appearance was 77 days earlier, on May 25, in IPL 2025.
Captain Pandey delivered a stunning batting performance in the season’s inaugural match, setting the stage for victory. In this match, Manish’s team batted first and scored 180 runs while losing 5 wickets in 20 overs. However, the team’s situation was precarious at one stage, with 5 wickets down for just 94 runs in 12 overs.
Seeing the situation, captain Manish Pandey took control of the innings and struck a half-century in just 25 balls. The 35-year-old Manish, in partnership with Sumit Kumar, forged an 86-run stand for the sixth wicket. Manish hammered an unbeaten 58 runs off only 29 deliveries, boasting a phenomenal strike rate of 200, which included 4 boundaries and 4 towering sixes.
In response, Bengaluru struggled from the outset, consistently losing wickets. At one point, the team had already lost 7 wickets for just 82 runs. Similar to Manish Pandey, Bengaluru’s captain Mayank Agarwal (66) also fought valiantly, keeping his team’s hopes alive. However, he received no support from the other end, and the entire team was eventually dismissed for a score of 141 in 19.2 overs. Mysore secured victory in this match with a substantial margin of 39 runs.