Kolkata Knight Riders player Manish Pandey (PTI Photo/Kunal Patil)
Indian batsman Manish Pandey, one of only four players to have featured in every edition of the Indian Premier League since its inception in 2008, describes his 19-year IPL journey as “going by in the blink of an eye”.
Pandey will don the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) jersey in IPL 2026, where the three-time champions take on five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium. Across 174 matches in the Indian Premier League, Pandey has scored 3,942 runs at an average of 121.52.
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“It’s been an amazing journey for me – 19 years, and now starting my 19th season. I started with MI in the first year after the Under-19 World Cup. That was a special memory, but honestly, it feels like it’s just gone by in an instant.
“From 2008 to now, 2026, it has been a lot,” Pandey said in a video released by the Indian Premier League on Sunday.“Overall, it has been a great experience. I am happy to be among those few players who have been a part of every IPL match and I always try to do justice to myself and the game. I am here only for the passion and love of cricket,” he added.Reflecting on his historic century with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in 2009, Pandey said: “Absolutely.
We were young, 18-19 years old, discovering the game and ourselves. In my second season, I scored a hundred in South Africa for RCB, which was amazing. I wasn’t expecting to open the innings and get that opportunity, but it helped me a lot. Being the first Indian to score a hundred and the youngest player at that time is a great memory, although someone else now holds that record.
“Regarding the growth of the Indian Premier League, Pandey noted, “This tournament has taught us a lot.
We were still understanding the dynamics at that time. Over the course of 19 years, the IPL has evolved dramatically – for players, sponsors and fans. The joy you have given so many is incredible. It is now one of the biggest platforms for young talent to shine.Pandey also spoke about how the game itself has changed: “At that time, 160 was good, and 140 was defensible. Now, everything is faster, with higher-scoring games and new bowling formats.
The IPL is at the center of world cricket today, testing players who have been here for a year or more. He made the game bigger and helped cricket grow.“We always dream of playing for India, and tournaments like the Indian Premier League are crucial. The selectors are watching closely, and performance here is key to staying in the game. I have been fortunate to do that over time,” he added.Pandey concluded by recalling the pivotal knock he took in the 2014 final for KKR: “That 95 innings in the final was life-changing. It helped me break into the Indian team, where I went on to play 29 ODI matches and 39 T20I matches. The Indian Premier League has been very kind to me, giving me the opportunity to handle the pressure while enjoying the game.”