'I don't want to be someone who lets down the team' - Manish Pandey

Karnataka captain Manish Pandey has recently shared the side's preparations for their Ranji Trophy quarterfinal tie against Uttar Pradesh. The eight-time winners to play the game at the KSCA Cricket Ground in Alur from June 6 onwards.

While admitting that Karnataka's failure to secure a place in the knockouts concerns him, Pandey stated in an interview with ESPNcricinfo, "Whenever Karnataka doesn't qualify for the knockouts or win, which we haven't done for a while, that bothers me as a player. One thing is clear to all: no one is indispensable.

"This cap never came free to anyone. We have all worked hard for it. That hard work and [hunger] keep me going even today. I will play my 95th game with the same intensity as my first," he further added.

Meanwhile, despite going through a transition phase, the squad is a mix of youth and experience. Stating that the latest pool of players is among the fittest ones he has ever seen. 

"I don't want to be someone who lets down the team. That is something that motivates me and keeps me going. At Karnataka, we work equally on our fitness as our skills. The bunch of new guys we've got are among the fittest."

Players like Devdutt Padikkal and Mayank Agarwal are likely to have an impact despite their poor IPL campaign. On the other hand, pace bowler Prasidh Krishna, who has been selected for the squad for the England Test, has been recommended rest by the team management. 

While talking about the importance of fielding in his game, Pandey believes that it is an aspect that one can widely contribute to the team's success. 

While talking about the amount of time he gives to fielding while training, the Karnataka skipper said, "I can't bowl 140kph. So, I'd rather give myself time and effort to something I can do for the team collectively. Fielding is a crucial part of cricket, and I really enjoy doing it. I put in the same amount of hours [into fielding] as my batting."