Manvanth Kumar’s emergence is breath of fresh air for Karnataka cricket

admin — Thu, 22 Oct 2026 15:04:00 +0000

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.

Walked in at 194/8. Walked out with an incredible 1⃣3⃣5⃣

Relive 22-year-old Manvanth Kumar’s maiden FC ton in just his second game

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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.

“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.

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

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Ranji Trophy: Karnataka and Saurashtra share the spoils on day two

admin — Mon, 19 Oct 2026 13:33:00 +0000

Honours were even between Karnataka and Saurashtra on day two of their Ranji Trophy match at the Alur Grounds near here on Monday.

From an overnight 281 for eight, Karnataka finished on 342, with Manvanth Kumar completing his maiden First Class century (135, 214b, 11×4, 6×6).

Saurashtra began its reply strongly as Hetvik Kotak (46, 127b, 5×4) and Harvik Desai (77, 78b, 11×4, 1×6) put on 110 for the opening wicket.

But the hosts pulled things back either side of tea, reducing Saurashtra to 128 for four. Arpit Vasavada (25 batting) and Prerak Mankad (13 batting) kept vigil for a little over 13 overs to help their side close at 164 for four. But the visitors are still 178 runs in the red.

Setback for Kaverappa

For Karnataka, a source of worry will be the fitness of pacer Vidwath Kaverappa as he limped off holding his right calf while bowling his 13th over. The 27-year-old had just returned after recovering from a left ankle injury sustained in the Duleep Trophy a month and a half ago.

On the day, it was the short-ball ploy that worked well for Karnataka, with Harvik, Gohil and Hetvik all falling prey. Chirag Jani was the other batter to be dismissed, playing on to a delivery from Abhilash Shetty.

Kaverappa precipitated the fall, forcing Harvik to attempt an ill-advised pull and having him caught by wicket-keeper K.L. Shrijith. Until then, the 27-year-old had played a chanceless knock, replete with pleasing drives and cuts. The six he hit off Karnataka captain Shreyas Gopal went out of the ground.

Lethal spell

Abhilash then accounted for Jani and Gohil in a seven-over spell that cost just 16 runs. The latter’s catch by Manvanth at the fine-leg boundary was stunning as he reached high for the ball, lobbed it up, skipped over the rope and came back in time to catch it again.

V. Vyshak excised the dogged Hetvik, with the batter’s hook landing in Aneeshwar Gautam’s safe palms at fine-leg. That wicket would have brought a sigh of relief, for Hetvik was grassed by Mayank Agarwal at gully off Manvanth when on 39.

Earlier in the morning, Manvanth got to a deserved hundred from 147 balls with a boundary to the third-man fence. The 22-year-old southpaw was reprieved on 94 by ‘keeper Harvik, but fortune, more often than not, favours the brave.

Manvanth was eventually caught off left-arm spinner Parth Bhut by the deep mid-wicket fielder running in, but not before giving Karnataka a solid footing in the contest.

Scoreboard

Karnataka:

1st innings: Rohan Patil lbw b Unadkat 6, Mayank Agarwal lbw b Unadkat 42, V. Vyshak b Sakariya 1, K.V. Aneesh c Harvik b Sakariya 59, Karun Nair c Kotak b Bhut 46, Aneeshwar Gautam c Harvik b Unadkat 4, K.L. Shrijith lbw b Bhut 21, Shreyas Gopal c Gajjar b Bhut 3, Manvanth Kumar c sub b Bhut 135, Abhilash Shetty (not out) 14, Vidwath Kaverappa c Sakariya b Bhut 1; Extras (lb-9, w-1): 10; Total (in 111.3 overs): 342.

Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-13, 3-111, 4-131, 5-140, 6-183, 7-187, 8-194, 9-340.

Saurashtra bowling: Unadkat 24-3-61-3, Sakariya 23-3-67-2, Panwar 11-2-32-0, Jani 8-0-45-0, Bhut 28.3-4-89-5, Prerak 15-6-30-0, Gajjar 2-0-9-0.

Saurashtra:

ranji1st innings: Hetvik Kotak c Aneeshwar b Vyshak 46, Harvik Desai c Shrijith Kaverappa 77, Chirag Jani b Abhilash 1, Jay Gohil c Manvanth b Abhilash 0, Arpit Vasavada (batting) 25, Prerak Mankad (batting) 13; Extras (w-2): 2; Total (for four wkts. in 53 overs): 164.

Fall of wickets: 1-110, 2-113, 3-115, 4-128.

Karnataka bowling: Kaverappa 12.1-4-31-1, Vyshak 11-2-47-1, Abhilash 12.5-3-26-2, Manvanth 9-1-29-0, Shreyas 7-0-26-0, Karun 1-0-5-0.

Published – October 19, 2026 07:03 pm IST