The limelight has followed Manish Pandey since his Under-19 days. Not many remember his contribution to the Indian team's spectacular victory in the Under-19 World Cup six years ago. While skipper Virat Kohli and teammate Ravindra Jadeja went on to make it big in international cricket, Pandey continued to remain as the "one to watch out for". That he is the first Indian to hit an IPL century is plain academic. Truth be told, the 25-year-old has yet to take the big leap.
On Tuesday afternoon, Pandey got a phone call he had been waiting for. He broke into the Team India squad for the lone Twenty20 match against the West Indies. "Finally," he sighed when dna congratulated him. "It is obviously a great feeling. I thought I was ready for it a couple of years ago, but it is OK. I feel this is the right time. I am mature enough now," Pandey said.
The Nainital-born right-hander has been on the selectors' radar for some years now. The high points of his career have been the 2009-10 and 2013-14 Ranji Trophy seasons where he scored 882 and 729 runs respectively.
Not to forget his showing in the last IPL as well as the Champions League Twenty20 in Kolkata Knight Riders colours.
"What's stood out is the consistency," an elated Pandey said.
The closest he came to making the national squad was when he made the probables for the 2011 World Cup. He revealed he was expecting a call-up after his impressive show in 2009 Ranji season. In the final against Mumbai, his brilliant 144 against the likes of Ajit Agarkar and Aavishkar Salvi on a seamer-friendly Mysore track almost took Karnataka home. "I was 19 then. I was expecting (a call-up) as I did well in the IPL and also the Ranji Trophy. However, I could not make it. But I made it to the World Cup probables a year later," said Pandey.
After toiling hard in domestic cricket, Pandey does not want to let this opportunity slip away. "Making it to the Indian team is a big step for me. There will be a lot of pressure but I know how to deal with it. After a lot of hard work, I have got this chance and now I want to make it count," he added.
Pandey knows his one-time teammates Kohli and Jadeja will be his seniors now. "I am excited to play with them. We want to play for the country and that is why we play cricket. This year was good for me and I would definitely want to continue in the same manner once I get that opportunity," said Pandey.
IPL 2014: Mat: 16, Runs: 401, HS: 94, Ave: 30.84, SR: 117.94, 50s: 2
CLT20 2014: Mat: 6, Runs: 172, HS: 76*, Avg: 43.00, SR: 140.98, 50s: 1
T20 career: Mat: 106, Runs: 2373, HS: 114*, Avg: 26.96, SR: 116.43, 100s: 1, 50: 11
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