The Indian Premier League has often been linked to big names such as Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni, with all three having appeared in every season of the competition. Yet one long-serving figure has quietly persisted through the years, rarely taking centre stage in the usual “every edition” conversations. That player is Manish Pandey.
Quick facts
- Manish Pandey made his first appearance in the 2026 IPL season on Sunday.
- KKR included Pandey in the playing XI, replacing Ramandeep Singh, for the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad.
- The 36-year-old became the third player to feature in at least one match in every IPL season across 19 editions (before MS Dhoni).
- MS Dhoni is unavailable due to a calf strain, with his return to the XI unclear.
- At the toss, Pat Cummins won and chose to bat first.
- KKR made two XI changes: Finn Allen and Pandey came in for Tim Seifert and Ramandeep Singh.
- KKR sit eighth in the points table with seven points from eight matches.
On Sunday, Kolkata Knight Riders named Manish Pandey in their playing XI for the contest against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad. He came in for Ramandeep Singh, marking his inclusion in the IPL 2026 squad as the 36-year-old stepped out for his first match of the season.
With that selection, Pandey joined an exclusive group of players who have turned up in at least one match across each of the tournament’s 19 seasons. In fact, he is only the third man to reach this mark, and he achieved it before MS Dhoni did.
Dhoni, meanwhile, remains on the sidelines because of a calf strain. The five-time champions are still waiting on clarity over when the former captain will be able to return to the playing XI.
Why Pandey still matters
Pandey has been a long-time KKR presence, and his impact for the franchise is difficult to forget. One of the most memorable moments came during the 2014 IPL final, where he delivered a match-winning knock against Kings XI Punjab, now known as Punjab Kings.
Across his IPL career so far, Pandey has played 174 matches, accumulating 3,942 runs at an average of 29.42. He also holds a notable record as the first Indian to score an IPL century—posting 114 runs off 73 balls in the 2009 season for Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Deccan Chargers.
His IPL journey has also included stints with KKR, RCB, Lucknow Super Giants, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Mumbai Indians and Delhi Capitals, giving him a rare breadth of experience across franchises.
Toss and team news
For the KKR vs SRH encounter, Pat Cummins won the toss and elected to bat first. KKR responded with two changes to their lineup, bringing in Finn Allen and Pandey in place of Tim Seifert and Ramandeep Singh.
At the toss, Rahane explained that his side wanted to bat first as well. He pointed to the way breaks in the schedule have helped the team reset—re-coupling the group and focusing on what worked previously—while stressing that the game often swings through “small, small moments” in T20 cricket. He added that momentum can shift within a single over, and that staying present, being proactive, and taking key stretches are central to success. He also confirmed the two alterations to the squad.
Heading into the match, KKR are positioned eighth in the points table, having collected seven points from eight games.
