Manvanth Kumar of Karnataka in action against Saurashtra during the Ranji Trophy Elite cricket match at the Aluru Cricket Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday, October 18, 2026.
| Photo Credit: SUDHAKARA JAIN
Manvanth Kumar plays cricket with freedom and flair. He rarely tucks his shirt in, is loose-limbed, bowls and fields with frantic energy, and loves the big hits.
Against Saurashtra recently, in only his second First Class match, the 22-year-old conjured up an awe-inspiring 135 (214b, 11×4, 6×6) after coming in at No. 9, with the score at 187 for seven.
Karnataka collected just one point from the match, and has a lowly two from its opening two Ranji Trophy fixtures, but Manvanth’s emergence — 223 runs in four innings — has been a breath of fresh air.
Interestingly, Manvanth first made a mark as a fast bowler. With 22 wickets, he was the leading wicket-taker in Hubli Tigers’ title-win in the 2023 Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20. In Karnataka’s 2023-24 Col. C.K. Nayudu (U-23) Trophy triumph, he took five for 36 in the final against Uttar Pradesh.
In a wonderful co-incidence, R. Vinay Kumar, Karnataka’s current head coach, was Manvanth’s mentor at Hubli Tigers. R. Smaran, under whom Manvanth made his First Class debut in Andhra ten days ago, captained him during the C.K. Nayudu triumph.
Manvanth Kumar of Karnataka in action against Saurashtra during the Ranji Trophy Elite cricket match at the Aluru Cricket Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday, October 18, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
SUDHAKARA JAIN
“He’s one of few players in the current crop who can make it big,” said Vinay. “He is a stroke-maker, and my message to him is clear — express yourself. The kind of strength and reach he has, he can score those big 100s.
“He’s a very good bowler too, and can easily touch 135-plus. We don’t have that many good fast-bowling all-rounders in India. This guy can be there,” the former India pacer added.
Like Vinay, Manvanth too hails from a modest background. He grew up in Mysuru, and his father was a Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus driver, who now runs a travel agency.
Manvanth Kumar of Karnataka in action against Saurashtra during the Ranji Trophy Elite cricket match at the Aluru Cricket Stadium in Bengaluru on Sunday, October 18, 2026.
| Photo Credit:
SUDHAKARA JAIN
Two years ago, Manvanth shifted to Bengaluru, lock, stock and barrel, having discontinued his studies at Maharaja’s College, in pursuit of his cricketing dream.
“I never wanted to be in a comfort zone,” Manvanth said. “I always wanted to build a career in Bengaluru. I have no distractions now. Cricket is the only thing on my mind.”
Come Monday, he will line up against Tripura at the SDNR Wadiyar Stadium inside the University of Mysore campus. Aged 12, Manvanth had started his sporting journey at the Mysore University Colleges Sports Council (MUCSC) under coach Mansoor Ahmed. There couldn’t have been a better homecoming.
Published – October 22, 2026 08:34 pm IST
