Rejected in IPL 2026 auction, released by Kavya Maran’s SRH – Now bowlers can’t get him OUT, he has scored…
Call it anger, motivation, or pure self-belief but one thing is certain: what Abhinav Manohar is doing right now is absolutely real. Ever since he went unsold at the IPL 2026 auction, getting him out has become a serious challenge for bowlers. Match after match, he is scoring runs and staying unbeaten, quietly sending a message to everyone who doubted him.
This is the same batter who was released by Sunrisers Hyderabad, a team owned by Kavya Maran. And now, the way Manohar is batting, it looks like he is determined to prove that decision wrong.
Unsold at IPL Auction, Fired Up in Vijay Hazare Trophy
Abhinav Manohar went under the hammer at the IPL 2026 auction on December 16 but did not find a buyer. Just eight days later, on December 24, he returned to competitive cricket in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, representing Karnataka. What followed has been nothing short of impressive.
Since the auction disappointment, Manohar has played five matches in the tournament. Remarkably, he has remained not out in every single innings he has batted. Bowlers have tried everything, but none have found a way past him.
Match-by-Match Consistency
Manohar began his Vijay Hazare campaign with a solid unbeaten 56 against Jharkhand. In the second match against Kerala on December 26, he did not get a chance to bat. However, he made sure to leave his mark in the games that followed.
Against Tamil Nadu on December 29, he stayed unbeaten on 20. Two days later, he scored 21 not out against Puducherry. His best performance came on January 3, when he smashed an unbeaten 79 against Tripura, guiding Karnataka with confidence and control.
Impressive Numbers, Calm Approach
Across five matches and four innings, Abhinav Manohar has scored 176 runs while facing just 90 balls. His strike rate has been excellent, and his innings include nine sixes and 17 fours. More importantly, he has not been dismissed even once, showing maturity and match awareness.
Batting in the middle order, Manohar has played the role of a finisher perfectly, absorbing pressure and accelerating when needed.
Released by SRH Before IPL 2026
Manohar was bought by Sunrisers Hyderabad for Rs 3.20 crore at the IPL 2025 auction. The right-handed batter was seen as a powerful middle-order option. However, ahead of the IPL 2026 auction, SRH decided to release him, a move that surprised many.
Now, with his consistent performances for Karnataka, Manohar is making a strong case for himself. His calm yet aggressive batting suggests a player who has learned from setbacks and is using them as fuel.
Message Sent, Loud and Clear
Abhinav Manohar may not have found an IPL team yet, but his bat is doing all the talking. If this form continues, it won’t be long before franchises start reconsidering their decisions. Sometimes, rejection becomes the strongest motivation and Manohar is proving exactly that.