Two days. That’s all it took for Mangesh Yadav’s life to change.
On December 14, 2025, the 21-year-old left-arm pacer from a small village called Borgaon near Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh, made his Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy debut. In two matches, he picked up 3 wickets at an average of 28, with best figures of 2/38. Just 48 hours later, on December 16, he was picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore for a staggering ₹5.2 crore — 17 times his base price of ₹30 lakh — after a bidding war with Sunrisers Hyderabad.
For a boy who studied only till Class 10 and whose father, a truck driver, took loans to buy him cricket equipment and fund his training, the auction wasn’t just a breakthrough — it was validation.
Mangesh’s performances in the MP League 2025 caught attention. Playing for Gwalior Cheetahs under the captaincy of Rajat Patidar, he took 14 wickets in just 6 matches, including three four-wicket hauls. His raw pace, control at the death, and left-arm angle made him one of the standout bowlers of the tournament. There’s strong buzz that Patidar himself recommended Mangesh to the RCB management.
Despite already having the likes of Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yash Dayal, and Nuwan Thushara, RCB saw value in Mangesh’s skillset — especially at their high-scoring home ground in Chinnaswamy. His ability to nail yorkers under pressure and offer variation makes him a smart pick.
And it’s not just the ball. In his lone batting outing in the SMAT, he smashed an unbeaten 28 off 12 balls, with a strike rate of 233 — showing he could be a handy finisher at No. 8.
There’s still a long road ahead, and Mangesh knows it. But from borrowed money to IPL millions, his story is already one of the most inspiring of the season.
He didn’t come from an academy circuit or under-19 limelight. He came from grit, tape-ball cricket, and silent hard work.
And now, Mangesh Yadav has arrived. Not just in the IPL — but in the conversation.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) made one of the most talked-about moves at the IPL auction by spending ₹5.2 crore on uncapped left-arm seamer Mangesh Yadav. The price tag surprised many, considering Mangesh had played just one match in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy before the auction. But RCB’s decision was rooted in performance, potential, and a strong internal recommendation.
From Syed Mushtaq Ali Debut to IPL Crorepati in 48 Hours
Mangesh Yadav’s rise has been incredibly rapid. On December 14, he made his Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy debut. By December 16, he had become an IPL crorepati. Such a quick turnaround is rare even in Indian domestic cricket and highlights how closely IPL franchises track emerging talent across formats and tournaments.
A Small Village Background and a Big Dream
Hailing from Borgaon village near Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh, Mangesh’s journey is a classic grassroots cricket story. His father, Ram Awadh Yadav, is a truck driver who faced years of financial hardship but ensured his son’s cricketing ambitions never took a back seat. With limited resources but strong family support, Mangesh kept pushing forward through age-group and state-level cricket.
Dominance in the Madhya Pradesh League
The real turning point came in the Madhya Pradesh League, where Mangesh played for the Gwalior Cheetahs. As a left-arm seamer, he was lethal, finishing as the leading wicket-taker with 14 wickets in six matches, including three four-wicket hauls. His ability to swing the ball, hit the deck hard, and maintain control stood out in a competitive league.
Rajat Patidar’s Key Role in the RCB Call
An important link in this story is Rajat Patidar, who captained Gwalior Cheetahs and leads RCB. Having seen Mangesh up close, Patidar is believed to have strongly backed the young pacer to the RCB management. That inside knowledge likely gave the franchise confidence to bid aggressively.
More Than Just a Bowling Option
Mangesh also offers useful lower-order hitting. In his lone Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy innings, he scored 28 runs off 12 balls at a strike rate of 233, showing he can contribute beyond bowling.
While many see him as a backup for Yash Dayal, Mangesh Yadav’s skill set and story suggest he could soon push for a place in RCB’s playing XI. His ₹5.2 crore price tag may just be the beginning.
Also Watch: IPL Auction: Why KKR shelled out ₹3 Crore for Delhi's Tejasvi Dahiya
