Manish Pandey, once a big star in the IPL circuit, was sold for Rs 50 lakh only in the 2024 auction, but has returned to the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for the IPL 2024 with India comeback plan on his mind.

The right-hand batter from Karnataka was part of KKR squad which won the trophy in IPL 2014. In the season, Manish Pandey scored 401 runs in 16 matches at an average of 30.84 and a strike rate of 117.94.   He spent four seasons from 2018 to 2021 with Sunrisers Hyderabad. He was bought for a whopping Rs 11 crore by SRH in the IPL 2018 auction. Despite averaging 48.66 in IPL 2021, the 34-year-old was not retained by SRH for IPL 2022 as Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) grabbed his services for Rs 4.60 crore. In his six outings for LSG, Pandey scored 88 runs at an average of just over 14. Delhi Capitals (DC) bought him for Rs 2.40 crore for 2023 season. In the 10 matches Manish Pandey played for DC, he scored 160 runs at an average of 17.78. His IPL stocks have come down to Rs 50 lakh now. Regardless of all the odds, Manish Pandey is expecting to have a stellar season for KKR and make an Indian comeback. He said injury to a player can also open doors for him at a time when selectors were fielding multiple India squads due to the busy cricketing calendar. "Yes, definitely. India are playing a lot of games with multiple squads. So I'm pretty sure, if you have a good IPL or a string of good performances, you can come back into the side anytime," Pandey told Sportskeeda. "You obviously don't want anybody to get injured, but that's how the doors open for any player to make a comeback. But for me, it'll be important to play good cricket, to start with," he said. Gambhir wants his players to do well: Manish Pandey Manish Pandey also praised the new KKR mentor and his former captain at the franchise Gautam Gambhir. The former India captain, who led KKR to title triumphs in 2012 and 2014, has been roped in by the franchise to end their 9-year wait for a trophy. "He is somebody who always wants his players to do well. That's what I've learnt from GG. He's been very passionate about the game and his energy on the field is unmatched. And that's what we learn as players, when your captain or leader is leaving everything on the field. I've made sure I try to replicate that in every game I play," Manish Pandey said while talking about Gambhir. Utkarsh Singh Mykhel source: mykhel.com