Manvanth Kumar: From surprise call-up to Karnataka's emerging asset
An unexpected call-up, a breakthrough hundred and a knack for rising to the occasion - Manvanth Kumar is making his presence felt in Karnataka's Ranji Trophy campaign
On October 1, Manvanth Kumar did not see himself featuring in the opening stages of the Ranji Trophy season for Karnataka. Having missed out on the list of probables and endured a modest run of form in the lead-up, Manvanth’s eyes were instead fixed on turning up for the Col. CK Nayudu U23 Trophy.
But a pleasant surprise was in store as he woke up to the news of Karnataka’s 15-man squad bearing his name. Three matches in, the lanky all-rounder has emerged as the team’s biggest positive in a mixed start to their campaign.
“I was thinking about preparing for the Col. CK Nayudu U23 Trophy and concentrating more on doing well there and somehow breaking into the Ranji Trophy team,” Manvanth tells Cricbuzz in an exclusive conversation. “I wanted to do something extraordinary - one big innings or a couple of five-fers. Then I got a call from home when the squad came out.”
Soon enough, Manvanth found himself digging Karnataka out of a hole in the Ranji Trophy. A surprise promotion to No. 3 in the opener against Andhra, he ground out a patient 44 in the second innings after the early dismissals of veterans Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul. It was in the next game against Saurashtra though where Manvanth made his mark - walking in at 187 for 7, the left-hander witnessed Karun Nair’s dismissal soon into his stay. Unfazed by the situation, he raced to 22 off 10, stepping out to counter the spinners and taking the attack to the experienced Jaydev Unadkat.
Intent, for Manvanth, is not necessarily about the scoring rate, as much as it is about responding to the merit of the ball. Giving him company was Abhilash Shetty, who blocked away and ended the opening day on 6 from 85 balls, allowing Manvanth to drag Karnataka’s score to 281 by stumps, having scored 86 himself. The next day, he notched up a hundred.
“It was actually a funny conversation,” Manvanth laughs as he recalls his partnership with Abhilash. “Because every time mid-on and mid-off were up and the left-arm spinner was bowling, he would say ‘ibru olage idare, nanu hoditini ivaga’ [both fielders are up, I will hit now]. But there was a clear message from the dressing room that he had to hold up one end. I too told him to just hang in at one end. And his role was also very important because had he got out, we had just one wicket left. Because he hung around, we got a really good partnership. His patience and resilience mattered immensely.”
Yet, the journey to this dream start in the Ranji Trophy was anything but smooth. Growing up in Mysuru, Manvanth always aspired to be an all-rounder and followed the footsteps of his brother Hemanth in pursuing the sport, taking it up full time at the age of 12. Honing his craft under the tutelage of S Balachander at the RBN Cricket Club, Manvanth commenced his career as a top-order batter at the age-group levels, while laying equal emphasis on his bowling. Eventually, bowling became his primary suit, having used his height to trouble batters.
Early success followed him in a breakout debut season for Hubli Tigers in the Maharaja Trophy 2023, where he was the joint highest wicket-taker with 22 scalps. Manvanth’s composure in the death overs and his mastery of the knuckle ball shone through, as did his ability to take down spin and his athleticism on the field. Soon after, he was bowling to the Indian team in the nets ahead of their departure for the Asian Games, before graduating to the Karnataka U23 setup, playing a key role in their triumph in the Col. CK Nayudu Trophy 2023-24.
But it took him over a year to break into the Karnataka senior setup, as he made sporadic appearances over the next two seasons in the white-ball formats. By his own admission, the step up to domestic cricket presented its challenges, which extended into 2026, when he decided to relocate to Bengaluru. It was a move necessitated by his job at the Rail Wheel Factory, but one that allowed him to avail better practice facilities.
Manvanth possesses certain attributes that make for an intriguing pick. For starters, his profile as a seam-bowling all-rounder who lends enviable balance to the side. Then comes his height - being 6’ 2’’ allows him to extract bounce with the ball and utilise his reach with the bat. At the age of 22, it makes for a promising ceiling.
Manvanth acknowledges the influence that Vinay Kumar, now Karnataka’s coach, has had on his career, having worked together consistently in the Maharaja Trophy. And clarity over the role expected of him eased Manvanth’s sudden transition into the senior red-ball setup.
“The one thing he always tells me is ‘for the potential you have, you can go a long way’,” Manvanth says. “He knows my potential and strengths. He has seen me closely for the last four years in the Maharaja Trophy and red-ball cricket. He knows what works for me. When I go out to bat, he never places any restrictions that I need to play a certain way. He told me, ‘You just go express yourself. If you feel you can hit the first ball, go hit it. Whatever happens, I’ll take the blame. But you play freely.’ That boosted my confidence a lot.”
A significant extent of his ability to thrive under pressure comes from his approach of relishing such situations, as well as the role that his practice routines have played.
“I try to treat the nets like a match so that I am not tired during the game and am used to it. When I bat too, I treat it similar to a match. I think of what’s a better shot, picking my bowlers, how to play when the ball is moving - I focus on all of that.”
Manvanth has also found himself thrown into high-stakes scenarios over the years. After bowling a successful last over in the Maharaja Trophy final in 2023, he held his own in a manic triple-Super Over clash the next season where he emerged a hero again for the Tigers. Prior to hitting the winning boundary off the last ball in the third Super Over, he struck an unbeaten 27 and picked up four wickets.
“Those situations somehow come looking for me,” he laughs. Little surprise then that he idolises former England captain Ben Stokes and his ability to make things happen.
“Primarily, I look up to his attitude more than his cricketing skills,” Manvanth says of Stokes. “He always contributes for the team - either a breakthrough or those crucial 30s or 40s with the bat, a run out on the field, batting with the tail like he did with Jack Leach [in the famous 2019 Headingley Test], he always has that never-give-up attitude. I really admire that quality.”
It was in the T20 format where Manvanth first caught the attention, earning him a gig with the Delhi Capitals for IPL 2025. While he did not get to play, watching batters clear the fence repeatedly in the tournament taught him the need to keep evolving as a bowler in the format.
“One thing I learned is you can be the best bowler in the world, but you have to keep learning and adding something new,” Manvanth says of his IPL experience. “You cannot survive T20s with just four or five variations. I also learned that it was a matter of one ball in T20s. One ball here or there, or even one bad shot or bad decision can change things considerably.”
But for all the qualities that catch the eyes of a T20 scout, it is in red-ball cricket that Manvanth has now broken down the selection door. Just three games in, he has emerged as a pivotal cog for Karnataka amidst an indifferent start to their tournament. Any skepticism over whether he could back his exploits against Saurashtra were largely quelled in the next game against Tripura: Manvanth bowled a tight spell with the new ball and picked up three wickets in the innings, before a quick 51 extended Karnataka’s advantage as they secured their first win.
It is this willingness to put his hand up in the big moments that has earned Manvanth a significant breakthrough sooner than he anticipated. And with Karnataka chasing consistent results to follow their first win, Manvanth will be keen to show that his promising start is just the beginning.
