Although he might not be in the international cricket scene currently, the experienced Indian batsman Manish Pandey’s batting prowess is still very much alive. After a hiatus, he showed his class, putting the bowlers under pressure. Playing in the Maharaja Trophy, nearly two and a half months after the IPL 2025 season, Manish Pandey’s batting brilliance was on full display, leaving the bowlers searching for answers. The veteran batsman achieved a half-century in a mere 25 balls in his debut match of the tournament.
With numerous T20 leagues happening across various Indian states, the Maharaja Trophy, a T20 league by the Karnataka State Cricket Association, commenced its new season on Monday, August 11. The second match featured Mysore Warriors versus Bengaluru Blasters. This match also marked the return of Mysore captain Manish Pandey, whose last match was 77 days ago, on May 25, in the IPL 2025.
Captain Pandey led with his exceptional batting skills in the opening match, setting the tone for a win. In the match, Manish’s team batted first and scored 180 runs, losing 5 wickets in 20 overs. However, the team faced a challenging situation at one point, with 5 wickets down for only 94 runs in 12 overs.
In response to the situation, Captain Manish skillfully managed the innings and scored a half-century in just 25 balls. The 35-year-old Manish, along with Sumit Kumar, built an 86-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Manish hammered an unbeaten 58 runs off only 29 balls with a phenomenal strike rate of 200, including 4 boundaries and 4 impressive sixes.
In reply, Bengaluru struggled from the onset, consistently losing wickets. At one stage, the team had lost 7 wickets for just 82 runs. Similarly to Manish Pandey, Bengaluru’s captain Mayank Agarwal (66) put up a strong fight, keeping his team’s hopes alive. However, he didn’t get support from the other end, and the entire team was ultimately dismissed for 141 runs in 19.2 overs. Mysore secured the victory in this match with a significant 39-run margin.