Former Indian pacer Dodda Ganesh who was recently appointed as Kenya men’s cricket team’s head coach has questioned Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team management for benching Karnataka all-rounder Manoj Bhandage for two Indian Premier League (IPL) seasons. The 25-year-old pace-bowling all-rounder is making a name for himself in the ongoing Maharaja T20 league for Mysuru Warriors. After an unbeaten 16-ball 42, he contributed with a 33-ball 58 in the ongoing tournament.
CEO of Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) Makrand Waingankar on his X account lauded Bhandage as someone who can hit the ball like Rinku Singh.
“25-year-old diminutive left-hand batsman and right-hand medium pacer from Raichur in Karnataka can be a pocket dynamo if the national selectors are looking for an all-rounder for T20. He times his big shots to perfection like Rinku Singh but knows well how to plan an over,” he wrote on X.
Ganesh replied to Waingankar’s post and expressed disappointment on Bhandage not even making it into the team as an impact substitute.
“I’ve been harping about him for 2 seasons now. But the @RCBTweets benched him for 2 editions straight and didn’t give him a game. Not even as an impact substitute. Manoj Bhandage is one of the clean strikers of the cricket ball. Hope some franchise gives him the opportunity #MaharajaTrophy.”
Bhandage on his IPL stint
Recently, Bhandage opened up on his time with the RCB franchise. He said that he learned something during the IPL even if he did not get to make his debut.
“In a tournament like the IPL, you get to learn something new everyday, even when you’re not playing. It can be anything — it can be about your technique, it can be about yourself. It’s not easy to stay away from your family, step out of your comfort zone and keep travelling everywhere. Especially when your team isn’t doing well, now, it’s time for me to implement all these learnings in the Maharaja Trophy," Bhandage recently told Cricket.com.
Bhandage’s knocks in Maharaja T20 league
Bhandage walked in to bat at no.9 against Shivamogga Lions and hit four sixes in his 16-ball 42. Mysuru Warriors won by seven runs as per VJD method. In the second game, he walked in to bat at no.7 and hit five fours, three sixes in his 33-ball 58. However, his knock ended in a losing cause as Bengaluru Blasters won by four wickets.
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