Manish Pandey expresses wish to play for India for a long time

Manish Pandey has impressed in his limited opportunities

26-year-old Manish Pandey from Nainital is one of Indian cricket’s promising young stars, and the KKR and Karnataka middle order batsman has recently talked about the emotional significance of his first international cap and his desire to represent his country for a long time.

Pandey was handed his debut, receiving his first cap from Harbhajan Singh, in the 3rd ODI against Zimbabwe. He might have been only filling in for the injured Ambati Rayudu, but he scored an impressive 71.

On what the moment and the match meant to him, Pandey said to BCCItv, "This has been my dream for a long time now and I consider myself very lucky to have played for India. I was waiting for this opportunity for a while now and when I got it I just wanted to make it count. I thought I did pretty okay."

“This was a dream not only for me but also my family and everybody who has worked with me over the years.”

Want to be in Indian team for long time: Pandey

Pandey, however, assured that he was not resting on his laurels and vast experience of 70 first class matches, and that he was prepared for the long road ahead.

He said, “I will not be thinking about this performance for too long. I have a long way to go and I will focus on what I have to do next.

"I will try to do well in whatever opportunities come my way, keep playing such knocks and try to be in the Indian team for a long time.”

Pandey was not taken in the India team to face off against South Africa, but he is part of the India ‘A’ side against whom the visiting Proteas are set to play a practice match on Tuesday, as are his KKR teammates Kuldeep Yadav and Suryakumar Yadav.

Congrats and all the best @im_manishpandey @surya_14kumar @imkuldeep18 for being selected to the India A T20 game vs. SA. @KKRiders

— Venky Mysore (@VenkyMysore) September 24, 2015