Before Mangesh Yadav ever pitched a ball in professional cricket, his father Ramavadh Yadav worked overnight, contemplating how he would secure funds for his son's dream.

Young left-arm all-rounder Mangesh Yadav said he is still struggling to believe that he will feature in the IPL 2026 season after being picked by RCB for Rs 5.2 crore.

When Mangesh Yadav's name flashed on the IPL 2026 auction broadcast in Abu Dhabi, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) locked horns in a fierce bidding war that would forever change the left-arm quick's life.