For someone still in his teens, Manish Pandey has an assured calmness about himself. Clear in his mind and confident in his demeanour. May be that is to do with his place of birth Nainital, the lake city of Uttarakhand. But give him a bat, the 18-year-old is  a different proposition altogether. The belligerent attitude has seen the youngster make some rapid strides in his promising career. It's little wonder then that he calls Ricky Ponting his favourite cricketer. "I just love the way he bats," he says, almost in awe.

Currently part of the Malaysia-bound India under-19 World Cup squad, Manish is the lone Karnataka player in the 15-member squad. The youngster is obviously thrilled at the opportunity to represent the country at the biggest competition in cricket at this level. “I am excited to be part of the World Cup squad,” says Manish, who is training at the conditioning camp for the team at the National Cricket Academy under coach Dav Whatmore. “It's a great feeling no doubt and I am looking forward to make the most of the opportunity,” he adds.
 
Son of an army officer, Manish moved to Bangalore some three years ago when his father was transferred to the City from Nasik.

Proper shape

Manish's father is now posted in Rajasthan, but he doesn't want to move away from Bangalore, determined to give his career a proper shape in a State that has produced some of the best cricketers the country has seen, not to forget two successive captains including the present one. Not a bad move! “It is here (in Karnataka) that I got a sudden boost to my career. I used to play in Nainital. I played in Nasik for four years in local leagues and was part of Maharashtra's State under-14 probables. But after I moved to Bangalore I got some big opportunities,” he reasons.

Manish, in fact, earned those chances with some eye-catching performances in the KSCA league. In the first year of his arrival, Manish played for Friends' Cricket Club in the fourth division and the next year he appeared for Jawans Cricket Club in the second division and he was the highest run-getter for them, helping Jawans get promoted to first division. In the subsequent year, Manish collected runs in excess of 800 for Jawans in the first division and a place State under-19 squad was beckoning.

As part of Karnataka colts, Manish slammed a double hundred against Maharashtra in an under-19 match and struck century in both the innings against Andhra in Vizag in the South Zone under-22 match. Meanwhile, he also hit an unbeaten 138 against Kerala in the one-dayers. These performances didn't go unnoticed. He was part of India under-19 team for the Sri Lankan sojourn, albeit only for the one-dayers in which he had reasonable success.

Big boost
 
Manish's career received a big boost late last year when the right-hander was picked for the State Ranji squad close on the heels of his inclusion into the South Africa-bound India U-19 squad. Though he didn't get a look-in in the State 11, he made ample use of the opportunities he got in South Africa. In the three one-dayers he got to bat, Manish churned out scores of 30 n.o., 54 and 74, the last knock coming in the final against Bangladesh and the one that fetched him man of the final award.

It's too early to say Manish is the next big hope of Karnataka, but on the evidence of the talent at show, he is the most promising bat. And of that there is little doubt.