Mangesh Yadav

Mangesh Yadav’s journey to the IPL is one built on resilience, sacrifice, and a relentless pursuit of opportunity. A left-arm fast-bowling allrounder capable of touching speeds of 140 kph, he has steadily developed into a promising prospect with both the ball and the bat.

His rise reached a defining moment at the IPL 2026 auction, where what he expected to be a modest opportunity turned into a bidding war between four teams. Royal Challengers Bengaluru eventually secured him for INR 5.2 crore.

Mangesh’s cricketing journey began in humble surroundings. As a teenager, he played tennis-ball cricket across states, travelling in unreserved trains and buses, earning match fees that helped him become financially independent at a young age. Those early experiences shaped his understanding of hard work and responsibility.

The turning point came when he moved to Noida at 16 to pursue structured cricket. Under the guidance of coach Phoolchand Sharma at Wonder Cricket Club, he began refining his natural left-arm angle and swing. Mentors like Tanmay Srivastava and trainer Ankur Tyagi played a key role in shaping his game, providing not just equipment and support but also helping him understand the demands of professional cricket.

A crucial phase in his development came under the guidance of former Madhya Pradesh seamer Anand Rajan, who brought him to Indore and helped map out a clear pathway into competitive cricket. With opportunities in district cricket and consistent backing, Mangesh began delivering strong performances, eventually breaking into the Madhya Pradesh setup.

His breakthrough came in the 2025 Madhya Pradesh T20 League, where he picked up 14 wickets in just 6 matches and was named Player of the Tournament. That performance put him firmly on the radar of IPL scouts, leading to trials with multiple franchises and, ultimately, his big auction moment.