NEW DELHI: At just 22, Manvanth Kumar comes across as a grounded, self-aware cricketer who understands his game remarkably well. Despite being at an early stage of his career, the Karnataka all-rounder has a clear sense of his strengths, his role in the team and the work required to take the next step.Manvanth caught everyone’s attention during Karnataka’s match against Saurashtra in the second round of the ongoing Ranji Trophy. He scored a fluent 135 after walking out to bat at No. 9, with his team reeling at 187/7 in the first innings.“It was a normal day for me. I just went out and played my natural game. The credit goes to Vinay Kumar sir, the Karnataka coach, because he told me to express myself. So, I went out there and expressed myself. That’s all,” Kumar tells TimesofIndia.com from Mysuru, where Karnataka will take on Tripura from Monday.Manvanth added 146 runs for the ninth wicket with No.10 Abhilash Shetty, helping Karnataka recover from a precarious position and post a competitive total.“I have played Under-23 cricket for the past three years, where I usually batted at No. 7 or No. 8. Even in T20 cricket, I bat at No. 6 or No. 7, so I am used to batting with the tailenders,” he says.The youngster made his mark in age-group cricket with a five-wicket haul in the final of the 2023-24 Col. C.K. Nayudu Trophy, helping Karnataka clinch the title against Uttar Pradesh. In the shorter format, he had already established himself as a key performer, claiming 22 wickets to help Hubli Tigers win the 2023 Maharaja Trophy KSCA T20 title.“I consider myself a bowling all-rounder. However, when I bat, I like to bat at No. 4 or No. 5. Currently, my role is that of a bowling all-rounder,” he says.
A family that loves cricket
Manvanth, who admires England all-rounder Ben Stokes, comes from a cricket-loving family. His father, S. Lakshmi Kumar, drove a bus for the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) before taking charge of a travel agency in Mysuru. He wanted both his sons to pursue cricket and his elder son, Hemant Kumar, has now taken up coaching.“Looking back, I feel good about my journey. I come from a middle-class family. My brother used to play cricket, and my father loved the game. He encouraged us to take up cricket, and watching my brother play inspired me as well,” he says.“My father used to drive a bus for BMTC. He now takes care of a travel agency in Mysuru. He has always loved cricket. He didn’t necessarily want to play the game himself, but he loved watching it and encouraged us to watch it too. From a young age, he would tell us, ‘This is Sachin, this is Rahul Dravid. Watch them,'” he recalls.His elder brother remains one of his biggest sounding boards, offering advice and keeping a close watch on his performances.“My elder brother is a cricket coach, and he is one of my mentors now. He is very particular about my game. Whenever I do something wrong, he asks me why I played a particular shot or bowled a particular delivery. He keeps guiding me,” Manvanth says with a laugh.While he admires Ben Stokes as a player, former India batter Manish Pandey has significantly influenced his career.“I like Ben Stokes, but if I have to name one idol, it would be Manish Pandey. I like him a lot. His attitude towards cricket and life in general has had a big influence on me. We played for the Hubli Tigers, with Manish Pandey leading the team, and we won the championship that year. That changed my cricketing career completely,” he says.
The coaches who shaped him
Manvanth began his cricketing journey at the Mysore University Colleges Sports Council (MUCSC), where he trained under Mansoor Ahmed. He has since worked with several coaches, each of whom has contributed to his development.“I started playing at MUCSC, where I trained under Mansoor Ahmed. Currently, I play for Rao Bahadur Narasappa Cricket Club (RBNCC) under Balachander and Ravindra sir,” he says.Among those who have played a particularly important role in his development is former Karnataka batter and coach Yere Goud, who recognised his potential during his early days in the Karnataka Premier League (KPL).“Yere Goud sir played a huge role in my career. He was the one who picked me at the auction in my first year of the Karnataka Premier League. He understood my game and knew what I needed to do.“He would tell me to go out there and express myself without holding back. He would say that even if I got out, he would take responsibility. He also recognised me as a proper all-rounder and got the best out of me. Vinay Kumar sir also looked after me when we were with the Hubli Tigers, but Yere Goud sir was the one who recognised my potential and helped me develop as an all-rounder,” he adds.
Learning to manage the workload
For a fast-bowling all-rounder who can consistently bowl at around 135 kph while contributing with the bat, managing workload and recovery is crucial. Manvanth says he has gradually learnt to understand his body and the demands of a packed domestic calendar.“Whenever we get a rest day, I focus completely on recovery. It could be spending time in the pool, taking an ice bath or getting a massage. Recovery is important, but playing cricket has become such a big part of my life that I feel something is missing when I don’t play,” he says.He is also clear about the adjustments required when switching between red-ball and white-ball cricket.“As a batter, I don’t change my intent much. Vinay Kumar sir has given me the freedom to express myself and play with the same intent as I would in white-ball cricket. He has told me that even if I get out, he will take responsibility. That gives me confidence.“Bowling is a little more difficult because you have to switch from hitting hard lengths to getting the ball to swing. It takes a day or two to get into the rhythm and adjust to the requirements of the format,” he explains.For someone who speaks about the game with such clarity, cricket might seem to occupy almost every waking hour. But there is another interest that helps him unwind.“Watching anime is one of the best parts of my day. I come back from a match and watch anime for a while. It is something I really enjoy apart from cricket,” he says.
