IPL 2026: ‘I’ve received more calls than ever before’ - Mangesh Yadav reflects on ₹5.2 crore RCB deal

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) secured Madhya Pradesh all-rounder Mangesh Yadav for INR 5.2 crore at the IPL auction. The 23-year-old later revealed that while he expected interest from at least one franchise, he never imagined that as many as four teams would enter a bidding war and significantly drive up his base price.

Mangesh had entered the auction with a base price of INR 30 lakh. RCB opened the bidding, with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) soon joining the contest. What followed was an intense battle, with a total of 41 bids placed for the promising all-rounder. Both franchises appeared equally determined to secure his services before RCB eventually emerged successful at INR 5.2 crore.

Reflecting on the moment, Mangesh said the scale of interest came as a surprise and described the experience as overwhelming. He added that following his selection, he received more phone calls than ever before in his life, highlighting how quickly his profile has risen after the auction.

“I’ve received more calls than I ever have previously. But these are things I’ll have to deal with going forward. I didn’t know how all of it feels, but I’m blessed to have a lot of people from my own state, like Rajat [Patidar] bhaiyya, Venky [Iyer] bhaiyya and Anand Rajan [former Madhya Pradesh seamer] sir for guidance. Not having to ask my father for money felt like an achievement. Today, I still don’t know how to process the feeling of getting such a massive bid. I want to make my parents feel comfortable. For that, I have to work hard and can’t get carried away,” said Mangesh to ESPNcricinfo.

Despite the glitz and glamour associated with the IPL, Mangesh revealed that his immediate focus remains on performing consistently in domestic cricket, particularly in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Mangesh has enjoyed a remarkable rise through the ranks, most notably during the 2025 Madhya Pradesh Premier League, where he finished as the leading wicket-taker. He claimed 14 wickets in just six matches, underlining his effectiveness and consistency with the ball. Representing the Gwalior Cheetahs, Mangesh registered three four-wicket hauls across his six outings.

“I’ve imagined what it’ll be like wearing the RCB jersey and standing on top of my run-up. But I’ve also imagined picking up wickets and winning games for MP. That is my primary goal,” Mangesh said.