Manoj Bhandage was born on October 5, 1998, in Raichur, a city in the state of Karnataka, India. He grew up in a simple family where cricket was a big part of life. From a young age, Manoj loved playing cricket with his friends in the streets and fields of Raichur. His father, Shivaramsa Bhandage, supported his passion and encouraged him to pursue the sport seriously. As a child, Manoj played a lot of tennis ball cricket, which helped him develop strong batting and bowling skills. He later moved to Bengaluru to get better training and improve his game. There, he worked hard to become a better cricketer, focusing on hitting sixes and bowling effectively.
Cricket Career
Domestic Cricket
Manoj’s professional cricket journey began when he made his Twenty20 debut for Karnataka in the 2018–19 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy on February 21, 2019. In this match, he showed his talent by scoring 11 runs off 6 balls and taking a wicket, helping his team win by 15 runs. He continued to play for Karnataka in various domestic tournaments, including the Vijay Hazare Trophy. In the 2022–23 season, he made his List-A debut against Meghalaya. Although he didn’t perform well in that match, he didn’t give up and kept working hard to improve.
Maharaja T20 Trophy
Manoj also played in the Maharaja T20 Trophy, representing teams like the Mysuru Warriors and Gulbarga Mystics. In the 2024 season, he had an outstanding performance, scoring 292 runs at a strike rate of 213 and taking 8 wickets. One of his best innings was against the Bengaluru Blasters, where he scored 44 runs off just 13 balls, leading his team to a big win.
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Indian Premier League (IPL)
Manoj’s impressive performances in domestic cricket caught the attention of IPL teams. In 2023, he was bought by the Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) for INR 20 lakhs. He was retained by RCB for the 2024 season as well. Manoj made his IPL debut on April 18, 2025, against the Punjab Kings at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium. Although he didn’t get much opportunity in his debut match, being part of the IPL is a significant achievement for him.
Playing Style
Manoj Bhandage is known as an all-rounder, which means he is good at both batting and bowling. He bats left-handed and bowls right-arm medium-fast. His aggressive batting style makes him a strong finisher in matches, and his bowling adds balance to the team. He is especially known for hitting big sixes and taking crucial wickets when needed.
Personal Life and Interests
Manoj comes from a humble background and remains grounded despite his success. He is close to his family, especially his parents, Shivaramsa and Saraswati Bhandage. He enjoys spending time with them whenever he is not playing cricket. Apart from cricket, Manoj likes listening to music and watching movies. He is also active on social media and shares updates about his cricket journey with his fans.
Conclusion
Manoj Bhandage’s journey from the streets of Raichur to the grand stadiums of the IPL is truly inspiring. His dedication, hard work, and passion for cricket have helped him achieve great success at a young age. As he continues to grow and perform, many young cricketers look up to him as a role model. We wish him all the best for his future endeavors in cricket!
Refrence links:
Manoj Bhandage Profile – Cricket Player India | Stats, Records, Video