Indian batsman Manish PandeyOne of the four players who have featured in every edition of the Indian Premier League since its inception in 2008, talks about his 19 years IPL A trip like “Fly in the blink of an eye”.Pandey will wear the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) jersey in IPL 2026, as the three-time champions take on the five-time winners. Mumbai Indians (MI) at Wankhede Stadium. In 174 IPL matches, Pandey has scored 3,942 runs at a strike rate of 121.52.
“It’s been an incredible journey for me – 19 years, and now going into my 19th season. I started with MI in the very first year of the U19 World Cup. It was a special memory, but honestly, it all feels like it went by in an instant. From 2008 to now, 2026, it’s been so much.”“Overall, it has been a wonderful experience. I am happy to be among the few players who have been a part of every IPL, and I always try to do justice to myself and the game. I am here purely for the passion and love of cricket,” he added.Reflecting on his historic century for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2009, Pandey said, “Absolutely, we were just young, 18-19 years old, discovering the game and ourselves. In my second season, I scored a century in South Africa for RCB, and it felt amazing. I didn’t expect it to help me so much, but I didn’t expect to get this opportunity. The first Indian to score a century and the youngest at the time. Umar Khiladi is a great memory, although the record is now held by someone else.“On the growth of the IPL, Pandey noted, “This tournament has taught us a lot. We were still understanding the dynamics then. In 19 years, IPL has evolved a lot – for players, sponsors and fans. The joy it has brought to so many is unbelievable. It is now one of the biggest platforms to shine young talent.Pandey also spoke about how the game itself has changed: “Back then, 160 was a good total, and 140 was defendable. Now, everything is faster, with high-scoring games and new bowling variations. The IPL is at the center of world cricket today, testing players who have been here for one or more years. It has made the game bigger and helped cricket grow.He added, “We always dream of playing for India, and tournaments like IPL are very important. The selectors watch closely, and performing here is the key to stay in the game. I’ve been lucky to do that over time.”Pandey concluded by recalling his pivotal innings in the 2014 final for KKR: “That 95 in the final was life-changing. It helped me break into the Indian team, where I played 29 ODIs and 39 T20s.”
