In a surprising turn of events during the IPL 2024 Auctions, the seasoned middle-order batter, Manish Pandey, remained unsold despite a base price of ₹50 lakh.
Pandey, known for his adaptability to any team, holds the distinction of being the first Indian to score an IPL century. This remarkable feat was achieved in the 2009 edition while representing RCB against the Deccan Chargers.
Having tasted success with the victorious KKR side in 2014 under Gautam Gambhir, speculation arose about Pandey’s potential return, especially since the franchise enlisted the former captain as a mentor for the upcoming season.
However, with CSK facing the void left by Ambati Rayudu’s retirement, Pandey could have been a viable replacement. Unfortunately, it was not to be, as Pandey did not align with CSK’s requirements.
Consistency issues have plagued the Karnataka batter, with his standout season being in 2020 with Sunrisers Hyderabad (425 runs), following a notable performance in 2014 (401 runs) with KKR. Since then, Pandey has struggled to make an impact, culminating in his surprising omission in the initial auction set.