Kolkata Knight Riders player Manish Pandey (PTI Photo/Kunal Patil)

Indian batsman Manish PandeyOne of only four players to feature in every edition of the Indian Premier League since its inception in 2008, describes his 19-year experience IPL The journey is like “flew by in an instant”. Pandey will wear the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) jersey in IPL 2026 as the three-time champions face the five-time winners Mumbai Indians (MI) at Wankhede Stadium. In 174 IPL matches, Pandey has scored 3,942 runs at a strike rate of 121.52. “It’s been an incredible journey for me – 19 years, and now I’m going into my 19th season. I started with MI in the first year after the U19 World Cup. That was a special memory, but honestly it feels like it all went by in an instant. From 2008 to now, to 2026, it’s been a lot,” Pandey said in a video released by the IPL on Sunday. He said, “Overall, it has been a great experience. I am glad to be among the few players who have been a part of every IPL, and I always try to do justice to myself and the game. I am here purely for the passion and love of cricket.” Reflecting on his historic century for Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2009, Pandey said, “Absolutely. We were just 18-19-year-old youngsters, discovering the game and ourselves. In my second season, I scored a century in South Africa for RCB, and it felt amazing. I didn’t expect to open the innings and get that opportunity, but it helped me a lot. Being the first Indian to score a century and the youngest at that time is a great memory, Even if it is someone else, that record still stands.“ On the growth of IPL, Pandey said, “This tournament has taught us a lot. We were still understanding the dynamics. In 19 years, the IPL has evolved massively – for the players, the sponsors and the fans. The joy it has brought to so many people is incredible. It is now one of the biggest platforms for young talent to shine. Pandey also explained how the game has changed: “At that time, 160 was a good score, and 140 was defendable. Now, with high-scoring games and new bowling variations, everything is faster. The IPL is at the center of world cricket today, testing players who have been here for a year or multiple years. It has made the game bigger and helped cricket grow.” “We always dream of playing for India, and tournaments like the IPL are important. The selectors watch closely, and performing here is important to stay in the game. I have been fortunate to do that over time,” he said. Recalling his decisive innings in the 2014 final for KKR, Pandey concluded: “That inning of 95 in the final was life-changing. It helped me earn a place in the Indian team, where I played 29 ODIs and 39 T20 matches. The IPL has been very kind to me, allowing me to deal with the pressure while enjoying the game.”