Manvanth Kumar Karnataka's Emerging All-Rounder in Ranji Trophy

When the Karnataka squad for opening phase of the Ranji Trophy season was announced on October 1, Manvanth Kumar had little reason to expect his name to feature in selection list. Having missed out on list of probables and struggled to find consistent form in the preceding period, the 22-year-old was preparing himself for the Col. CK Nayudu Under-23 Trophy instead.

However, unexpected opportunity soon changed his plans. Manvanth woke up to the news that he had been included in Karnataka’s 15-member Ranji Trophy squad. Three matches into competition, My99exch young seam-bowling all-rounder has become one of the brightest performers for Karnataka during an inconsistent start to their campaign.

“I was preparing for the Col. CK Nayudu U23 Trophy and wanted to perform well there to eventually earn a place in the Ranji Trophy side. I was hoping to produce something special, perhaps a big innings or a few five-wicket hauls. My99exch I received a call from home after the squad was announced,” Manvanth recalls.

His unexpected selection quickly turned into an opportunity to demonstrate his abilities. In Karnataka’s opening match against Andhra, Manvanth was promoted to No. 3 and responded with a composed 44 in the second innings. His contribution came at an important stage after experienced batters Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul had departed early.

However, it was against Saurashtra in the following fixture that Manvanth delivered a performance that truly announced his arrival. Karnataka were struggling at 187 for 7 when he walked to the crease. Soon after,my99exch Karun Nair also returned to the pavilion, leaving the youngster with considerable responsibility.

Rather than allowing the pressure to affect his approach, Manvanth counterattacked. He scored 22 runs from just 10 deliveries, using his feet confidently against the spinners and taking on experienced pacer Jaydev Unadkat.

“When I go out to bat, my approach is simple. I focus on intent. I watch the ball, react to it and commit to my decision,” he explains.

For Manvanth, intent does not always mean aggressive stroke-making. It is about understanding the situation and responding my99exch according to the quality of the delivery. His partnership with Abhilash Shetty proved particularly valuable as Karnataka attempted to recover from a difficult position.

While Manvanth continued to score freely, Shetty concentrated on protecting his wicket. The contrast between their approaches helped Karnataka rebuild their innings. Manvanth eventually finished the opening day with 86 runs, taking the team to 281 before completing a memorable century the following morning.

Recalling partnership, Manvanth shares an amusing exchange between two batters. Whenever the opposition brought mid-on and mid-off closer while the left-arm spinner was bowling, Shetty would suggest my99exch he was ready to attack. However, the dressing room had instructed him to remain at the crease and provide stability.

Manvanth also encouraged his partner to remain patient, understanding how important his presence was with only one wicket remaining. Shetty's resistance allowed the pair to build a crucial partnership and give Karnataka a competitive total.

From Mysuru Cricket Grounds to Karnataka's Senior Team

Manvanth's journey to the Ranji Trophy setup has been shaped by patience, consistent effort and a strong desire to develop into a genuine all-rounder.

Growing up in Mysuru, he developed an interest in cricket following his elder brother Hemanth. He decided to pursue the sport seriously at the age of 12 and began developing his skills under coach S Balachander at RBN Cricket Club.

During his early age-group cricket, Manvanth primarily featured a top-order batter while continuing to work on his bowling. Over time, his bowling became one of his biggest strengths. His height and ability to generate bounce helped him develop into an effective seam-bowling option.

His first major breakthrough arrived during the 2023 Maharaja Trophy, representing the Hubli Tigers. Manvanth finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker in the competition with 22 wickets, showcasing his effectiveness in pressure situations.

His ability to execute at the death, particularly with his knuckle-ball variations, attracted attention. Alongside his bowling, demonstrated confidence against spin, contributed my99exch his athletic fielding and established himself as a valuable T20 all-rounder.

His performances soon earned him an opportunity to bowl in the Indian team's practice sessions ahead of their departure for My99exch Asian Games. He subsequently became part of Karnataka's Under-23 setup and played an important role in their Col. CK Nayudu Trophy triumph during the 2023-24 season.

Despite these achievements, the transition into Karnataka's senior team took longer than expected. Over the following two seasons, he made occasional appearances in the white-ball formats but had to wait for a consistent opportunity.

Manvanth admits that adjusting to the demands of senior domestic cricket was challenging. In 2026, he also relocated to Bengaluru because of his employment at the Rail Wheel Factory. The move helped him access better training facilities and maintain greater consistency in his preparation.

The Importance of Confidence and Clear Communication

At 6 feet 2 inches, Manvanth possesses physical attributes that make an interesting prospect. His height helps him extract additional bounce as a fast bowler, while his reach provides an advantage when playing attacking shots.

His ability to contribute multiple departments gives Karnataka valuable balance, particularly in the longer format. At just 22, he has considerable room to improve and establish himself as a dependable all-rounder.

Karnataka coach Vinay Kumar also played an important role his development. Having worked closely with Manvanth through the Maharaja Trophy and red-ball cricket, the coach understands his strengths and preferred style of play.

According to Manvanth, confidence and freedom provided Vinay Kumar have helped him adapt to the senior setup without unnecessary pressure.

“He always tells me that with the potential I have, I go a long way. He has watched me closely over the last four years and understands my strengths. He never puts restrictions on how I should bat. He tells me to express myself freely, even if I feel like attacking the first ball. He says he will take responsibility for the outcome and wants me to play with confidence,” Manvanth says.

Freedom allowed him to approach challenging situations a positive mindset rather than worrying about the consequences of individual decisions.

He also places considerable importance on preparation. Instead of treating practice sessions as routine net sessions, he tries to recreate match conditions and make every batting opportunity meaningful.

During practice, works on shot selection, identifying bowlers to target and understanding how to handle different conditions, including situations when the ball is moving. His objective is to enter matches with a clear understanding of what the situation demands.

A Player Who Enjoys Performing Under Pressure

Manvanth's ability to remain composed difficult situations is not something has developed only during his Ranji Trophy appearances. He has experienced several high-pressure moments in the Maharaja Trophy as well.

In the 2023 final, he successfully handled the responsibility of bowling final over. The following season, he produced another memorable performance during an extraordinary match that went into three Super Overs.

Representing the Hubli Tigers, Manvanth contributed both bat and ball, scoring an unbeaten 27 and claiming four wickets. He eventually became one of the key figures in the contest, finishing the match by hitting the winning boundary off the final delivery of the third Super Over.

Reflecting on experiences, he says that difficult situations somehow find their way to him.

It is perhaps no surprise that admires former England captain Ben Stokes. For Manvanth, Stokes represents the ideal example of a player who consistently steps up when his team needs him.

He particularly admires Stokes' attitude and willingness to contribute in different ways, whether through important breakthroughs, valuable middle-order runs, exceptional fielding or partnerships with the lower order.

His famous partnership My99exch Jack Leach during the 2019 Headingley Test is one example that stands out for Manvanth.

He believes that Stokes' never-give-up mentality is an important quality for any cricketer who wants to make a difference in challenging situations.

Learning and Improving Through the IPL Experience

Manvanth first attracted significant attention through his performances in T20 cricket, which eventually earned him a contract with Delhi Capitals for IPL 2025.

Although he did not feature in the playing XI, the experience being around an IPL team provided valuable lessons. Watching some of the world's leading batters consistently attack bowlers helped him understand importance of continuous improvement in the shortest format.

He realised that relying limited set of variations would not be enough to succeed in modern T20 cricket. Bowlers must continue developing new skills and adapting their plans according to different batters and match situations.

“One of the biggest lessons I learned was even if you are among the best bowlers, you cannot stop improving. You need to keep learning and adding new variations. Having just four or five options is not enough in T20 cricket. Sometimes, a single delivery can change the entire match. One mistake or one poor decision can make a huge difference,” he explains.

The IPL experience gave better understanding of the demands of professional T20 cricket and the level of preparation required to compete against quality opposition.

A Promising Beginning in Red-Ball Cricket

Although early recognition came through T20 performances, Manvanth is now making a strong case for himself in the longer format.

His century against Saurashtra demonstrated his batting ability under pressure, while performance against Tripura further highlighted his value as an all-rounder.

In that fixture, he delivered an economical spell with new ball and picked up three wickets. He then contributed a quickfire 51 with the bat, helping Karnataka strengthen their position and eventually secure their first victory of the campaign.

The performances across matches have established him as an important player in the Karnataka setup. More importantly, they have shown that he can contribute in different situations rather than relying on My99exch one particular skill.

Manvanth remains focused on making the most of every opportunity instead of looking too far ahead.

“When the Ranji Trophy started, I had one thing in mind. Whenever I get an opportunity, I want to give 100 per cent and do whatever the team needs from me at that particular moment. If the team is going through a difficult phase or needs someone to step up, I want to contribute and help them recover,” he says.

For a who was not even expecting to be part of Karnataka's opening Ranji Trophy squad, the start has been remarkable. His batting contributions, wicket-taking ability and willingness to take responsibility have made him one of the encouraging discoveries of Karnataka's campaign.

With more matches ahead, My99exch Manvanth Kumar now opportunity to turn this promising beginning into a consistent run of performances. If he continues to develop his skills and maintain the confidence that defined his early Ranji Trophy appearances, Karnataka could a valuable all-rounder for the years to come.