Former India wicketkeeper-batter Deep Dasgupta lauded veteran Manish Pandey for delivering a composed and match-winning innings as Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) beat Mumbai Indians by four wickets at Eden Gardens on 21 May, chasing down 148 in 18.5 overs to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Pandey's Innings at the Centre of KKR's Chase

Batting for the first time this IPL season, Pandey anchored the chase with a steady 45 off 33 balls on a difficult, two-paced surface. Rovman Powell contributed a valuable 40 alongside him, with the two forging a crucial mid-innings partnership after KKR lost early wickets in the Powerplay. Rinku Singh hit the winning boundary to seal the result.

What Deep Dasgupta Said

Speaking to Jio Hotstar, Dasgupta was effusive in his praise. 'Manish Pandey has always had a special ability to contribute with both bat and on the field. He has batted in multiple positions, and at this stage of his career, he knows how to use his experience effectively. That is exactly what he did against Mumbai,' he said.

Dasgupta highlighted Pandey's positive intent under pressure. 'It was a tricky chase. Low-scoring games are always tense. After losing early wickets in the Powerplay, he could have gone into a shell. But he didn't. He played with positive intent, took calculated risks, hit over the infield, and was brave enough to go aerial when needed,' he added.

The Powell-Pandey Partnership

Dasgupta underscored how critical the stand between Pandey and Powell was given that both players had seen limited action in the tournament. 'That is why this partnership between Rovman Powell and Manish Pandey was so crucial. Manish was batting for the first time this season, and Rovman has also not had many opportunities to come out and bat. It is good to see them contribute,' he said.

Repaying Franchise Faith

The former India cricketer framed Pandey's knock as a lesson in professional responsibility. 'It is good to see Manish get a game and play an impactful innings. Once you have been part of the IPL for such a long period of time and teams show faith in you, you must repay that faith. Manish did that quite brilliantly against Mumbai,' Dasgupta said.

Mumbai Indians Fell Short on a Tough Surface

Dasgupta also offered a measured assessment of Mumbai Indians' batting effort, suggesting they were approximately 25–30 runs short on a challenging pitch. He noted that after MI's bowlers took early wickets, there was a window where a couple more breakthroughs could have tilted the game, but KKR held their nerve to complete the chase.

With this win, KKR remain in contention for the playoff spots, and the form of Pandey — a player long trusted by the franchise — adds a significant option to their middle-order arsenal heading into the business end of the season.