Experienced batter Manish Pandey has been eased out of the Karnataka team across formats, KSCA men’s selection committee chairman J. Abhiram said here on Tuesday.
Pandey, 35, has not been named in the Karnataka probables list for the Vijay Hazare Trophy which starts later this month.
It is time to give young players the chance to step up and perform, Abhiram said. “Manish has had a fantastic career; no doubt about it. But at some stage, you will have to make way for youngsters. We have a few exciting young batters - Prakhar Chaturvedi, Aneeshwar Gautam, K.V. Aneesh. The more opportunities they get, the better,” Abhiram told Sportstar.
Pandey, incidentally, was the Karnataka vice-captain in this season’s Ranji Trophy. Abhiram confirmed that Pandey will not play for Karnataka when the Ranji Trophy resumes next month. “Pandey will not come back for the second leg of the Ranji Trophy. We have K.V. Aneesh in the reserves; he should come in. Now it is up to the youngsters to make full use of all chances,” Abhiram said.
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“I had a word with Pandey, and I explained all the reasons for this decision. We would like him to stay connected with Karnataka cricket, perhaps as a coach or in any other role. It is very hard to have this sort of tough conversation. But this is the circle of life,” Abhiram said.
Pandey has been a steady presence in the Karnataka line-up since making his senior debut in 2007.
An attacking batter, Pandey first shot to fame in 2009, when his unbeaten 114 for Royal Challengers Bangalore made him the first Indian centurion in IPL history.
A terrific athlete and fielder, Pandey played 29 ODIs and 39 T20Is. He made 118 First Class appearances, and also led Karnataka in the longest format.
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