IPL 2026: Mangesh Yadav’s parents live in a ₹1,200 rented room, RCB pick him for ₹5.20 crore at auction

Published - 19 Dec 2025, 16:01 IST | Updated - 19 Dec 2025, 16:05 IST

Madhya Pradesh cricketer Mangesh Yadav, hailing from Pandhurna district in the Jabalpur division, is set to represent Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) under the leadership of Rajat Patidar. The 23-year-old pacer will share the dressing room with some of the biggest names in world cricket, including Virat Kohli, Josh Hazlewood, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Phil Salt.

Mangesh was picked up by RCB for INR 5.20 crore at the IPL 2026 mini-auction, despite having a base price of just INR 30 lakh. Intense bidding drove his value up by nearly 17.5 times, reflecting the growing interest in his abilities. He caught the attention of scouts with his pace, accuracy and exceptional skill in executing yorkers consistently, particularly in the death overs.

Coming from a humble background, Mangesh’s rise has been nothing short of inspirational. His father works as a truck driver, and the family lives in a rented room costing Rs. 1,200 per month. His IPL selection has marked a major turning point for his family. Passionate about cricket from a young age, Mangesh made the difficult decision to step away from formal education after Class 12 to pursue the sport full-time.

Who Is Mangesh Yadav? The MP T20 League all-rounder

In search of better opportunities, he moved to Noida to further his cricketing career. His perseverance paid off when he emerged as the highest wicket-taker in the Madhya Pradesh T20 League, claiming 14 wickets in 21 overs for the Gwalior Cheetahs. These performances earned him a place in the Madhya Pradesh senior side, and he went on to make his T20 debut in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

During the Super League phase of the tournament, Mangesh played a couple of matches, picking up three wickets and also contributing a quick 28 off just 12 balls with the bat. Known for his humility, he has often given away prize money from local tournaments to ground staff, keeping only trophies as keepsakes. In one instance, he even gifted a racing bicycle he won at the Chhindwara MP Cup to ground workers.

Celebrations broke out in Borgoan, around 35 kilometres from Pandhurna, following his auction success. A middle-overs specialist, Mangesh is regarded as a promising talent. With RCB also signing players like Venkatesh Iyer, Jacob Duffy and Satvik Deswal, it will be intriguing to see how the Rajat Patidar-led side utilises this emerging fast bowler in the upcoming season.