Kolkata Knight Riders have handed Manish Pandey a role in their IPL 2026 match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday, slotting him into the playing XI. With that appearance, Pandey became only the third cricketer—after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma—to take the field in at least one game across all 19 seasons of the Indian Premier League.
At a glance
- KKR included Manish Pandey in the playing XI vs Sunrisers Hyderabad on Sunday (IPL 2026).
- Pandey became the third player to feature in at least one match in every IPL season (19 total), after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.
- The 36-year-old replaced Ramandeep Singh for KKR’s ninth match of the season.
- Pandey was bought for Rs 75 lakh at the auction and had not played earlier in the season.
- KKR selected Pandey over younger options Tejasvi Dahiya and Sarthak Ranjan, with Ajinkya Rahane backing experience after Ramandeep’s low scores.
- This was Pandey’s first top-level IPL appearance since last year’s tournament.
- Pandey was not picked by Karnataka for the 2025-26 domestic season.
- MS Dhoni could join the list if he plays for Chennai Super Kings this season, but a calf injury has kept him out so far.
- KKR made another change by bringing back Finn Allen after a stretch of low scores earlier in the season.
- SRH were without all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy, rested due to illness.
- SRH included Harshal Patel and also gave a spot to Karnataka batter Smaran Ravichandran.
Pandey, aged 36, came in for Ramandeep Singh as KKR chased their ninth outing of the season. The franchise had acquired him for Rs 75 lakh during the auction, and he had not been used in any match prior to this game.
Captain Ajinkya Rahane’s call saw Pandey selected ahead of younger contenders Tejasvi Dahiya and Sarthak Ranjan. The preference for a more seasoned batting option followed Ramandeep’s run of returns that were considered too low for KKR’s needs.
This match also marked Pandey’s return to IPL action at the highest level after a break since last year’s edition. He was not chosen by Karnataka for the 2025-26 domestic campaign, adding to the sense that this call-up had been long awaited.
Dhoni the next candidate?
MS Dhoni, now 44, is another name that could join the exclusive group if he manages to play for Chennai Super Kings in the current season. At this stage, however, he has been sidelined due to a calf injury and has not featured yet.
For now, the spotlight remains on Pandey’s achievement. To have at least one appearance in each of the 19 IPL seasons is a rare milestone, and Kohli and Rohit already own it, setting a high benchmark for anyone else trying to match their consistency.
Pandey’s IPL journey
Pandey began his IPL career with Mumbai Indians back in 2008. He later moved to Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where he became the first Indian batter to register an IPL century in 2009.
After that, he joined Pune Warriors India in 2010 and stayed with the franchise for four seasons. His most memorable spell arrived with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2014, when he was part of the side’s title-winning run under Gautam Gambhir.
That 2014 campaign was also the first time Pandey crossed the 400-run mark in a single IPL season. He spent four seasons with KKR before switching to Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2018.
He then went on to play for Lucknow Super Giants in 2022 and Delhi Capitals in 2023, before returning to Kolkata Knight Riders in 2024. In KKR’s title-winning season during that return, he played one match, and last year he featured in three games.
KKR’s XI also reflected their recent momentum. The team had won their previous two matches and, alongside Pandey’s inclusion, they recalled opener Finn Allen, giving him another opportunity after a period of low scores earlier in the season.
Sunrisers Hyderabad, meanwhile, entered the contest with a personnel change of their own. All-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy was missing, rested due to illness.
SRH used the opening to include Harshal Patel and also brought in Karnataka player Smaran Ravichandran, giving him a chance to make an impact at IPL level.
For fans tracking the tournament, keep an eye on the latest IPL live score updates, IPL news, the schedule, and the points table, along with the race for the Orange Cap and Purple Cap.
