Manish Pandey waited almost the entire IPL 2026 season for a proper opportunity with the bat. When Kolkata Knight Riders finally needed someone to steady a tense chase against Mumbai Indians, the veteran rolled back the years and reminded Eden Gardens exactly why he still carries cult-hero status inside the franchise.
Pandey’s composed 45 off 33 balls helped KKR defeat Mumbai Indians by five wickets in a must-win clash on May 20, keeping the defending champions alive in the IPL 2026 playoff race. After spending most of the season padded up without getting a chance to bat, the veteran finally walked into a pressure situation and delivered like he had done so many times during the Gautam Gambhir era.
KKR vs MI: Highlights | Scorecard
Speaking after receiving the Player of the Match award, Pandey admitted this was the first real batting opportunity he had received all season.
“Yeah, maybe that’s the reason why I’m still here. It definitely feels really great. KKR has been really nice and kind to me, obviously,” Pandey said with a smile while speaking about his long association with KKR.
The man of all seasons
The man of many brilliant catches
Hear from Manish Pandey on what it takes to be such a fantastic fielder
Scorecard https://t.co/Aw11jLoww5#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #KKRvMI | @im_manishpandey | @KKRiders pic.twitter.com/JfRDIiBry8— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 20, 2026
Pandey also admitted he desperately wanted to make the chance count once he finally got into the middle.
“Coming back to the start of the season, this was the only game I’ve actually batted, so I’ve been padded up and waiting to bat, but didn’t get the opportunity in the first four games. But I think this was a special one, wanted to stay there and hopefully make our team win, and that’s what happened,” he added.
The veteran batter also spoke about how important it became for him to stay involved with the squad despite not regularly making the playing XI this season.
“Even more important for me that if I’m not getting to play, that I definitely want to be a part of this whole team,” Pandey said.
“And whoever wants to ask me anything, I want to help around. So I think that’s what I’ve done the whole series.”
Honestly, the innings almost felt like vintage KKR nostalgia.
For longtime KKR fans, Pandey walking out in a tense chase at Eden immediately brought back memories of the 2014 IPL final and several other pressure chases during KKR’s golden period under Gautam Gambhir.
Only this time, the stakes were about survival.
After restricting Mumbai Indians to 147 through a disciplined bowling effort, KKR still found themselves wobbling slightly during the chase on a tricky Eden Gardens pitch.
Finn Allen gave the innings a fast start before chopping onto his stumps against Deepak Chahar, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s injury during the first innings forced KKR into reshuffling their batting order.
That unexpectedly opened the door for Pandey at No.3. And the veteran immediately brought calmness back into the chase.
First came a stabilising partnership with Ajinkya Rahane. Then followed a crucial 64-run stand with Rovman Powell that effectively broke the pressure of the chase.
Power and placement combining brilliantly for @KKRiders
Glimpses of Rovman Powell and Manish Pandey’s match-defining stand of 64
Updates https://t.co/Aw11jLoww5#TATAIPL | #KhelBindaas | #KKRvMI pic.twitter.com/J3VjAKO8WY— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 20, 2026
Pandey even took on Jasprit Bumrah and Deepak Chahar at key moments, showing glimpses of the confident middle-order aggressor KKR fans remembered from years ago.
Eventually, Rinku Singh finished the job with the winning runs as KKR sealed a five-wicket victory to move to 13 points, level with Punjab Kings in the playoff race.
KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane later praised Pandey’s professionalism throughout a season where opportunities had been extremely limited for the veteran.
“Really happy for Manish Pandey,” Rahane said after the match.
“His work ethic, his attitude has been fantastic. When you are not playing, it is tough for a player. But he has been brilliant around the group, putting in the hard yards in the practice.”
And on a night where KKR simply could not afford failure, Pandey ended up repaying that faith perfectly.
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Source: India Today
