Manish Pandey, a seasoned cricketer from Karnataka, has become only the third player in Indian Premier League (IPL) history to participate in all 19 seasons, joining the ranks of renowned players Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. On May 3, 2024, as the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) announced his return to the playing eleven, Pandey's longevity in the league was highlighted. Unlike Kohli and Rohit, who have played for a single team and two teams respectively, Pandey has represented multiple franchises including the Mumbai Indians, Royal Challengers Bangalore, Pune Warriors India, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Lucknow Super Giants, Delhi Capitals, and KKR. He made a significant mark in the IPL by scoring the first century by an Indian player, a remarkable 114* for RCB in 2009. His most memorable contributions came during his time with KKR, particularly his 94-run performance in the 2014 final that helped secure the championship. Over his IPL career, he has accumulated 3,942 runs in 174 matches, with 22 half-centuries and one century. Recently, he replaced Ramandeep Singh in KKR’s lineup due to the latter's poor form, as Rinku Singh has emerged as a reliable finisher for the team.