Veteran batter Manish Pandey has been left out of the Karnataka squad across formats, signaling a generational shift in the team’s composition. The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) men’s selection committee, led by J. Abhiram, confirmed the decision on Tuesday, emphasizing the need to provide younger players with greater opportunities.
Pandey, 35, was notably absent from the probables list for the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy, set to commence later this month.
Abhiram elaborated on the decision, saying, “Manish has had a fantastic career, no doubt about it. But at some stage, you will have to make way for youngsters. We have exciting young batters like Prakhar Chaturvedi, Aneeshwar Gautam, and K.V. Aneesh. The more opportunities they get, the better.”
The decision marks a significant moment in Karnataka cricket, as Pandey has been a mainstay since his senior debut in 2007. Known for his attacking batting style and exceptional fielding abilities, Pandey rose to prominence in 2009 when he became the first Indian to score an IPL century with an unbeaten 114 for Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Over his career, he represented India in 29 ODIs and 39 T20Is, amassing over 100 First Class appearances and captaining Karnataka in the Ranji Trophy.
Pandey, who served as Karnataka’s vice-captain in the Ranji Trophy earlier this season, will not return when the tournament resumes next month.
“Pandey will not come back for the second leg of the Ranji Trophy. K.V. Aneesh, who is in the reserves, will step in. Now it is up to the youngsters to make full use of all chances,” Abhiram confirmed.
The decision was communicated to Pandey in a candid conversation. “I had a word with Pandey and explained all the reasons for this decision. We would like him to stay connected with Karnataka cricket, perhaps as a coach or in any other role. It is very hard to have this sort of tough conversation, but this is the circle of life,” said Abhiram.
The Karnataka squad for the Vijay Hazare Trophy boasts seasoned players like K.L. Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, and Prasidh Krishna alongside emerging talents like Devdutt Padikkal, K.V. Aneesh, and others.
As the team ushers in a new era, the focus shifts to how the young players perform in the vacuum left by a stalwart like Pandey. His absence signifies both the end of an illustrious chapter and the dawn of new possibilities for Karnataka cricket.
Karnataka Squad for Vijay Hazare Trophy:
K.L. Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Prasidh Krishna, Devdutt Padikkal, L.R. Chethan, Macneil Noronha, Shreyas Gopal, K.L. Shrijith, Abhinav Manohar, Manoj Bhandage, Hardik Raj, V. Koushik, Vidyadhar Patil, Shubhang Hegde, Abhilash Shetty, Mohsin Khan, R. Smaran, Luvnith Sisodia, V. Vyshak, Manvanth Kumar, Yashovardhan Parantap, Pravin Dubey, M. Venkatesh, Nikin Jose, K.V. Aneesh, K. Shashikumar, Paras Gurbax Arya, Shikhar Shetty, Kishan Bedare, Harshil Dharmani, Vidwath Kaverappa, Kruthik Krishna.
