Abhinav Manohar, the Karnataka middle-order batter known for his clean hitting and composure under pressure, enters the IPL 2026 Auction with a base price of Rs 30 lakh after a challenging but eventful year with Sunrisers Hyderabad. The 30-year-old has built a reputation as a powerful finisher, but his recent journey has been marked as much by resilience as by cricketing milestones.
Ahead of the domestic season, Manohar endured a difficult off-season, spending weeks at home recovering from jaundice followed by a viral fever. The illnesses left him drained and unable to train, with the batter openly admitting he had “lost a lot of muscle” during the forced layoff. For someone who needed time in the middle after a tough IPL 2025, the timing could not have been worse.
Yet, resilience has always been central to Manohar’s story.
His rise began in dramatic fashion during the 2021 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy pre-quarters, where he walked in at 60 for 4 chasing 146 against Saurashtra and smashed an unbeaten 70 off 49 ballsincluding six sixes. It was an innings that instantly put him on the radar of IPL scouts. Gujarat Titans picked him for their debut season in 2022 — a year that he still calls “a dream come true,” as the franchise went on to lift the title.
Now part of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s setup, Manohar remains valued for his finishing ability, clean ball-striking, and ability to absorb pressure in the middle order.
As the IPL 2026 auction approaches, the Karnataka batter enters the pool as an experienced, battle-hardened option at an affordable price point — a profile that could attract teams seeking a domestic middle-order hitter with proven temperament.
If you want, I can also prepare a shorter headline version, a team-fit analysis, or a bullet-style player snapshot for Instagram.
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