26 May,2009 08:17 AM IST | | Chetan R
Royal Challengers hero Manish Pandey (19) has a miserable 10 per cent attendance, but his college isn't thinking of disciplining him. In fact, it is waiving rules to let him write his BA exams, and, er, giving him a cash prize as well
If a college student ends up with just 10 per cent attendance, he is likely to be booted out of college, or, at the very least, denied his exam hall ticket.
The Jain Group of Institutions will felicitate Manish Pandey (19), final year BA student, and more famously, Royal Challengers' star batsman, tomorrow.
Pandey distinguished himself with many match-winning knocks this IPL season, and became the first Indian ever to score a century in the tournament.
Overwhelmed by his performance, Shri Bhagwan Mahaveer Jain College on J C Road plans a special party, and will allow him to write his exams, notwithstanding his shortage of attendance.
"It's a mind-boggling achievement and he is our hero," said Shankar U V, sports director of the group. "He deserves all our support."
Mani
Mani, as Pandey is known in college, has bowled his teachers over with his brilliant performance in South Africa.
His 114-run knock is still being talked about, but his match-winning 48 against Chennai Super Kings in the semi-finals was what first made him a hero in his college.
"He spoke to us after the final," said Shankar. "He was upset about Bangalore not winning the final but promised to keep up his performance."
The college is planning a welcome bash for Pandey, where he will also be given a cash award.u00a0
"We are proud of him," said Chenraj Jain, chairman, Jain Group of Institutions. "We will certainly reward him for his performance."
Pandey spent ten hours a day practising, sometimes alone.
"He used bowling machines if his friends didn't turn up. Attendance won't be a problem for a meritorious student like Pandey," said Shankar.
5 players from one institution
Jain Group of Institutions boasts five students who played in the just concluded IPL series.u00a0
RCB's Robin Uthappa, who graduated from the college, will be back to pursue his MBA, while Appanna, Manish Pandey and Raju Bhatkal are contemporaries. Another student, Ryan Ninan, played for Kings XI.
