Manish Pandey Names Legendary Indian Cricketer He Idolised

Indian batsman Manish Pandey has emerged as an asset for the national team in limited-overs cricket in the past few days. Having made his debut in 2015, Manish Pandey shot into limelight as the first Indian batsman to score a century in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The knock of 114 for Royal Challengers Bangalore came against the Deccan Chargers back in IPL 2009.

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In 2015, he got to wear the blue jersey with pride against Zimbabwe in Harare. Manish’s first innings of note came against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground a year later, smashing a century. His unbeaten maiden ODI hundred in an inconsequential game gave India a victory as they successfully chased down 331.

Meanwhile, the 30-year old indulged in a chat for Spicy Pitch, in which he openly spoke about several aspects of the game and gave insights on his personal life. One of the most-talked-about things involved when Manish named the cricketer he looked up to when growing up.

I was a big fan of him: Manish Pandey

It was Rahul Dravid, who the Nainital-born batsman looked up to in his early days. Having shared a dressing room with Dravid in Ranji Trophy and for Royal Challengers Bangalore, he labelled the former Indian captain was one of the most disciplined sportsmen.

Manish Pandey went on to recall when he was playing for U-19, it was an endearing sight watching Dravid bat. It was rather lovely from his perspective, watching the bowler and the batsman simultaneously.

“When I was a kid, one cricketer that I looked up to was Rahul Dravid. I was always a big fan of him. The way he was disciplined towards his game and life, I thought it was really good. And a time when I came here (Bangalore), and I played with him in the Ranji Trophy first and then for RCB for a year, it was a great experience and to share a story with that kind of a legend of the game.

Especially when I was playing U-19, I used to love watching him bat. He used to stand in first slip and when I started coming in the side and a couple of games later, I started standing at second slip, and then I would look at him and the bowler. That feeling was really surreal and its something that I still cherish.”

Manish Pandey reveals the advice he received from Rahul Dravid when struggling in Ranji Trophy:

When the runs weren’t coming off his bat, the 30-year old spoke candidly to the 164-Test veteran. Dravid advised him to play his natural game, the one that he did in U-19 and U-22 matches and not overdo anything, which is when the runs started flowing. Manish added that he got runs against UP and in the same game, Dravid also got a century. He thanked his 47-year old and admitted that he hasn’t changed his gameplay since.

“I was not getting runs in a couple of matches, and then I just went up to him and said ‘Rahul bhai, this is what’s happening’. He just said ‘just play how you normally played your game in U19 cricket, don’t try to change your game. The way you’ve batted in U19, the way you’ve played your U22. Don’t try to be over defensive, don’t try to play over flamboyant just continue the way you’ve been playing and you’ll get runs’. Then I got a hundred against UP, and he was there batting with me, he also got a ton in that game. I expressed thanks to him, and from then on, I think I’ve not really changed my game.”

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