Manish Pandey back for Karnataka: Former captain included in probables for SMAT

In the 2026 Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20, Manish Pandey made 291 runs from nine innings. | Photo Credit: Vijay Soneji

Nearly two years after he last played for Karnataka, former captain and veteran batter Manish Pandey has been included in the list of probables for the upcoming Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

The 37-year-old was eased out of the Karnataka squad across formats in December 2024, and has since featured in just nine IPL matches for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) across the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

“Last year didn’t go well for us and we won just two matches. We felt we needed some experience and strength in batting. Since Manish is fit, we thought he will be a good inclusion,” Amit Verma, chairman of the selection committee, told Sportstar.

Manish’s lack of matches wasn’t that big a concern, said Verma. “He has been training, and he still practises. He has been with KKR for the last three years and he will be motivated to do well ahead of the IPL auction [in December].”

What is beyond dispute is Manish’s fitness and fielding ability. In May, he pulled off a stunning one-handed catch at backward point to dismiss Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s Tim David, an effort to which even Virat Kohli doffed his hat.

Manish was the captain when Karnataka won back-to-back Mushtaq Ali titles in 2018-19 and 2019-20, and also when the State finished runner-up to Tamil Nadu in 2021-22.

In the 2026 Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20, Manish made 291 runs from nine innings at a strike-rate of 177.44.

Karnataka’s campaign will commence on November 14, with the match against Bengal at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.