Though R P Singh has won the purple cap in the
IPL for being the most economical bowler, his reputation was brought to tatters when Manish Pandey took him to task in the last over of the match between Deccan Chargers and the Bangalore Royal Challengers for 23 runs. While RP Singh may have got the stick in his opening spells he has been fantastic in the death over in IPL so far, before the advent of Manish Pandey.
Manish Pandey was dabbling with the offer of joining the army but the scintillating knock of 114 has meant that his battle ground is the cricket pith and the stadiums around the world.
He was one of the players along with Robin Uthappa who was transferred from Mumbai Indians to Bangalore Royal Challengers and was waiting for his chance. When he got it, he did capitalize it with both his hands. Pandey is profuse in the encouragement that was provided to him by his captain Anil Kumble as also the coach Ray Jennings, which he feels was the catalytic factor in scoring the century.
When Manish Pandey was on 99 in the 18th over of the match he was patiently waiting for a run and in the process had let a few balls go by. The commentators offered the comment that in such crucial over the personal score should not be given prominence vis-à-vis the interests of the team. Ultimately, they must be feeling stupid as the manner in which he thrashed R P Singh in the last over was the ultimate differentiator between the two teams.
He is a protégée of the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore and the director of the academy Whatmore must be pleased with this performance of his prodigy. He has already played for India under-19 and is a part of the Karnataka Ranji Trophy team as well.
