Manjot Kalra: U19 World Cup Hero's Fall from Grace
The former India U19 star faces match-fixing charges in Sri Lanka, adding to a list of controversies that derailed his promising career.
Manjot Kalra, once hailed as a rising star after scoring a match-winning century in the 2018 U19 World Cup final, was arrested by Sri Lankan police on match-fixing allegations during the Lanka Premier League. The left-handed batter, now a co-owner of the Jaffna Kings franchise, has seen his career plummet since that early triumph.
Kalra’s journey off the rails began soon after the World Cup. He skipped Delhi U19 training ahead of the Vinoo Mankad Trophy in 2017, raising questions about his commitment. During his time with Delhi Capitals in the IPL, he earned a reputation for insincerity, missing training sessions and never making his debut before being released.
The most damaging blow came in 2020 when he was handed a one-year suspension by the Delhi and District Cricket Association for age fraud. That controversy effectively ended his playing career, forcing him into a franchise ownership role. Now, with match-fixing allegations, Kalra’s fall from grace seems complete.