Least worried about his chance, Manzoor Dar wants Kings XI Punjab on top

The Indian Premier League (IPL) is on the way to complete eleven years of excellence and it keeps getting better with every new season. Having unveiled countless stars so far, IPL has emerged as a league that every cricketer in the world dreams to be a part of.

Similarly, the IPL has also helped a lot of Indian domestic/junior stars excel at the highest level, by providing them with the opportunity to share the dressing-room with and play alongside the legends of the game. The cash-rich IPL has also assisted many needy players become overnight successes.

One among such players is the recent cricket sensation from Jammu and Kashmir, Manzoor Ahmad Dar, perhaps known better by his nickname ‘Pandav’.

Manzoor, who hails from a small village in North Kashmir’s Bandipora district, is the only player this season and overall second from Jammu and Kashmir to make it to IPL. He was picked by the Kings XI Punjab team in this year’s auction at 20 lakh INR and is currently boarding with the squad.

Though Manzoor is yet to make his IPL debut, he is ecstatic to be part of the Kings XI Punjab:

“There can be nothing more joyful than to share the dressing-room with some of the legends of cricket, and I feel rather overwhelmed to be part of this Kings XI Punjab side,” revealed Manzoor in an interview with CricTracker’s Mohsin Kamal.

The IPL stint has helped Manzoor excel as a cricketer, and he counts his blessings:

“The journey with IPL has been a great learning experience so far. I believe I have improved a lot as a player, and it will continue to help me in my future endeavours as well.”

Manzoor marks IPL as the world’s topmost T-20 league:

“The IPL is something that needs no introduction. I believe it’s the world’s best T20 league, as the level of cricket that the players get to play is of the most superior quality.”

When asked about his chances of being in the playing eleven, Manzoor says without a moment’s hesitation that it is the team combination that must come first. He wants nothing more than his team to be on top.

“Deciding the playing XI is up to the team management, and they know their job very well. It’s all about the team combination as well. At the end of the day, the team should do well and that’s what matters the most,” he put it very matter-of-factly.

If provided the chance, Manzoor is hopeful of making the most of it:

“God willing, if I will get the opportunity, I would make sure to make the most of it. I have been working hard in the nets, and I’m hopeful of doing well whenever my chance arrives,” said an optimistic Pandav

Manzoor Pandav also thanked all his fans back home for their continued support and wishes:

“I want to thank each and every well-wisher, especially those from the Valley. Their support has made me reach here and I hope they will always be there for me,” Manzoor said while signing off.

~ Interview by Mohsin Kamal

For all the latest interviews and other updates follow CricTracker.