Ajay Mandal IPL Stats make for an unusual reading in the world of Indian Premier League numbers. The Chhattisgarh left-arm spinner has been on IPL squad lists for four straight seasons, with two different franchises, yet has not played a single match. Chennai Super Kings bought him in the IPL 2023 auction for his base price of INR 20 lakh, kept him on the roster through 2024, and Delhi Capitals then paid INR 30 lakh for him in the 2025 mega auction before retaining him for 2026.
Behind the blank IPL ledger sits a genuinely productive domestic all-rounder. Mandal owns the Ranji Trophy record for the highest score by a number eight batter (241 not out against Uttarakhand) and was the first Chhattisgarh bowler to reach 100 Ranji Trophy wickets. Delhi clearly see him as a spin-bowling all-rounder in the Axar Patel mould: a back-up left-arm option who can bat in the lower order and take the new ball or bowl in the middle overs when conditions suit.
His IPL 2027 position is still open. Delhi retained him for the 2026 season at INR 30 lakh, but the franchise is yet to announce its official retention list for 2027, so whether he stays in blue or goes back into the auction pool is not officially confirmed.
Ajay Mandal IPL Stats Overview
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ajay Jadav Mandal |
| IPL Debut | Yet to debut |
| Role | All-rounder |
| Batting Style | Left-hand bat |
| Bowling Style | Slow left-arm orthodox |
| Current IPL Team | Delhi Capitals |
| IPL Matches | Yet to debut |
| IPL Runs | Yet to debut |
| Highest Score | Yet to debut |
| IPL Wickets | Yet to debut |
| Best Bowling | Yet to debut |
| IPL 2027 Team | Not officially confirmed |
| IPL 2027 Price | Not officially confirmed |
Who Is Ajay Mandal?
Ajay Jadav Mandal is an Indian all-rounder from Durg, Chhattisgarh, born on 25 February 1996. He bats left-handed and bowls slow left-arm orthodox, a combination that has made him one of the most dependable domestic cricketers in central India since his first-class debut in the 2016-17 Ranji Trophy season.
His domestic record tells the story of a cricketer who does two jobs well. In first-class cricket he has scored over 2,000 runs at an average above 35 with five centuries, including that 241 not out against Uttarakhand in 2019-20 batting at number eight, still the highest Ranji Trophy score by a number eight. With the ball he passed 130 first-class wickets and became the first Chhattisgarh bowler to take 100 Ranji Trophy wickets, reaching the landmark in January 2023. He also had a stint as an overseas professional with Doncaster Town Cricket Club in England.
That domestic body of work is what earned him his first IPL deal. After a strong 2022-23 Ranji season in which he took 29 wickets, Chennai Super Kings signed him at the IPL 2023 auction. He spent the 2023 and 2024 campaigns in the CSK squad without playing, learning alongside MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja at Chepauk, before Delhi Capitals picked him up for the 2025 season.
Ajay Mandal IPL Teams
| Season | Team | Status | Price (INR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Chennai Super Kings | Bought at auction (base price) | 20 lakh |
| 2024 | Chennai Super Kings | Retained | 20 lakh |
| 2025 | Delhi Capitals | Bought at auction | 30 lakh |
| 2026 | Delhi Capitals | Retained | 30 lakh |
| 2027 | Delhi Capitals | Not officially confirmed | Not officially confirmed |
Mandal’s IPL journey has crossed two franchises but never quite crossed the boundary rope on match day. Chennai held him for two seasons as squad depth behind Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali and Mitchell Santner, then released him. Delhi saw a more specific role for him in 2025: a left-arm spin back-up to Axar Patel who could also double up as an impact-player option on turning tracks. He was retained for 2026 on the same INR 30 lakh deal, and while some media outlets list him among players Delhi could release before the IPL 2027 auction, those are speculative lists, not official announcements.
Ajay Mandal IPL 2024 Stats
| Batting | Value |
|---|---|
| Matches | Yet to debut |
| Innings | – |
| Runs | – |
| Highest Score | – |
| Average | – |
| Strike Rate | – |
| 50s / 100s | – |
| Bowling | Value |
|---|---|
| Overs | – |
| Wickets | – |
| Best Bowling | – |
| Average | – |
| Economy | – |
Mandal spent the entire 2024 season on the Chennai Super Kings bench. CSK had retained him after the 2023 auction at his base price of INR 20 lakh, but he did not feature in a single match as the five-time champions leaned on their established spin group. There are no IPL batting or bowling figures to record for the season.
Ajay Mandal IPL 2025 Stats
| Batting | Value |
|---|---|
| Matches | Yet to debut |
| Innings | – |
| Runs | – |
| Highest Score | – |
| Average | – |
| Strike Rate | – |
| 50s / 100s | – |
| Bowling | Value |
|---|---|
| Overs | – |
| Wickets | – |
| Best Bowling | – |
| Average | – |
| Economy | – |
Delhi Capitals bought Mandal for INR 30 lakh at the IPL 2025 mega auction, with analysts at the time framing him as a smart low-cost back-up for Axar Patel, someone who could cover the left-arm spin role and add lower-order batting on spinner-friendly pitches. He travelled with the Delhi squad through the season but the available records show no IPL appearance. His IPL ledger remained untouched at the end of 2025.
Ajay Mandal IPL 2026 Stats
| Batting | Value |
|---|---|
| Matches | Yet to debut |
| Innings | – |
| Runs | – |
| Highest Score | – |
| Average | – |
| Strike Rate | – |
| 50s / 100s | – |
| Bowling | Value |
|---|---|
| Overs | – |
| Wickets | – |
| Best Bowling | – |
| Average | – |
| Economy | – |
Delhi retained Mandal for the 2026 season on his existing INR 30 lakh deal. He was named in the Capitals’ full 25-player squad for IPL 2026, but playing XIs published through the season do not show him making his debut. As with every previous season, there are no verifiable IPL batting or bowling figures against his name for 2026. If and when the Delhi Capitals hand him a cap, this section will be the first to carry real numbers.
Ajay Mandal IPL 2027 Stats
IPL 2027 statistics are not available yet because the season has not started.
What is confirmed is his standing at the end of the 2026 season: a retained Delhi Capitals squad member on a INR 30 lakh contract. Whether Delhi keep him on that deal, release him into the auction, or trade him has not been officially announced. Speculative media lists have named him as a possible release, but those lists are predictions rather than confirmed franchise decisions.
Ajay Mandal IPL 2027 Team and Price
Mandal’s IPL 2027 team and price are not officially confirmed. His last confirmed status is as a retained Delhi Capitals player for IPL 2026 at INR 30 lakh, the same price the Capitals paid for him at the IPL 2025 mega auction.
Readers tracking the retention window should keep an eye on the franchise announcements. The rules around how teams keep or release players are explained in our guide to the IPL 2027 retention deadline, rules and purse, and the confirmed schedule for the player auction is covered in our IPL 2027 auction date, venue and time page.
Ajay Mandal IPL Career Batting Stats
| Format | M | Inn | NO | Runs | HS | Avg | BF | SR | 100s | 50s | 4s | 6s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IPL | Yet to make IPL debut — no batting record | |||||||||||
There are no IPL batting statistics for Ajay Mandal because he is yet to play his first match in the league. The career batting record that underpins his IPL contracts sits in domestic cricket: in first-class cricket he has scored over 2,000 runs at an average above 35, with five centuries and a highest score of 241 not out. His T20 batting strike rate in domestic cricket sits in the low 130s, consistent with a lower-order hitter rather than a top-order anchor.
Ajay Mandal IPL Career Bowling Stats
Mandal has no IPL bowling record yet, for the same reason as above: he is still waiting for his first league appearance. His domestic T20 bowling is the relevant reference point. In domestic T20s he has taken more than 50 wickets at an economy rate in the low sevens, with a best of 5 for 10, figures that explain why two IPL franchises have kept him on their books as a left-arm spin option.
Ajay Mandal IPL Stats by Year
| Season | Team | Mat | Inns | Runs | HS | Avg | SR | 50s | 100s | Wkts | Econ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Chennai Super Kings | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2024 | Chennai Super Kings | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2025 | Delhi Capitals | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2026 | Delhi Capitals | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2027 | Not confirmed | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – |
The dashes tell the story: squad member in 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026, match-day participant in none of them. Every one of his four IPL seasons so far has ended without a debut.
Ajay Mandal IPL Highest Score
Ajay Mandal has no IPL highest score because he is yet to bat in an IPL match. The highest score of his professional career is 241 not out, made for Chhattisgarh against Uttarakhand in the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy. He came in at number eight and finished unbeaten, a knock that remains the highest Ranji Trophy score ever made by a number eight batter. It is a domestic record, not an IPL one, but it is the innings that put his name on the national scouting radar.
Ajay Mandal IPL Wickets and Best Bowling
Mandal has no IPL wickets and no IPL best bowling figures to report, having never bowled in the league. His best T20 bowling of 5 for 10 came in domestic cricket, and his standout first-class spell produced 7 for 7. Those domestic returns are what franchises are paying for: a left-arm spinner who can take wickets in the middle overs and hold an end when the pitch turns.
Ajay Mandal IPL Batting Records
There are no IPL batting records in Ajay Mandal’s name. Until he plays his first league match, this category stays empty. The records he does hold are domestic: the Ranji Trophy record for the highest score by a number eight batter (241 not out) and, in January 2023, becoming the first Chhattisgarh bowler to reach 100 wickets in the Ranji Trophy.
Ajay Mandal IPL Auction Price History
| Season | Team | Price | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Chennai Super Kings | INR 20 lakh | Bought at auction (base price) |
| 2024 | Chennai Super Kings | INR 20 lakh | Retained |
| 2025 | Delhi Capitals | INR 30 lakh | Bought at auction |
| 2026 | Delhi Capitals | INR 30 lakh | Retained |
| 2027 | Not officially confirmed | Not officially confirmed | Retention/auction pending |
The price trail is simple and consistent: a base-price signing, a like-for-like retention, a modest step up at the mega auction, and another retention. CSK bought him at his INR 20 lakh base price in the 2023 auction and kept him for 2024 rather than bidding again. After Chennai released him, Delhi Capitals paid INR 30 lakh at the IPL 2025 mega auction and retained him at the same figure for 2026. Franchises do not usually pay INR 30 lakh for a player four years running unless they rate what they see at training, so the numbers suggest Delhi value him as dependable squad depth even without a debut.
Ajay Mandal IPL Records and Achievements
- Four IPL squad seasons without a debut: CSK (2023, 2024) and Delhi Capitals (2025, 2026) — an unusual distinction that shows sustained franchise interest despite zero appearances.
- Ranji Trophy record: highest score by a number eight batter, 241 not out for Chhattisgarh against Uttarakhand in 2019-20 (domestic record).
- First Chhattisgarh bowler to 100 Ranji Trophy wickets, reaching the mark in January 2023 (domestic achievement).
- Overseas professional stint: signed for Doncaster Town Cricket Club in England in 2023.
Ajay Mandal’s IPL Performance Analysis
There is no IPL performance to analyse in the conventional sense, and it would be misleading to pretend otherwise. The meaningful pattern in Mandal’s IPL story is his durability as a squad asset. Chennai kept a 20-lakh uncapped all-rounder for two seasons behind Ravindra Jadeja, Moeen Ali and Santner; Delhi then paid more for him and kept him again. That is four franchises-year decisions in his favour without a single appearance, which reads as a vote of confidence in his training form and his fit for specific conditions.
The structural reason is role clarity. Mandal’s value is narrow and well-defined: left-arm orthodox spin, lower-order batting, and fielding, all at a low price point. At Delhi he sits behind Axar Patel in that exact role, which explains both why the Capitals bought him and why he has not played. The path to a debut is equally clear: an injury to a frontline spinner, a string of turning pitches, or a late-season dead rubber where Delhi can experiment. His domestic numbers support the theory that he would not be a passenger — a T20 bowling economy in the low sevens and genuine batting power make him a plausible two-phase contributor if the opportunity finally arrives.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Ajay Mandal made his IPL debut?
No. Despite being on IPL squad lists for Chennai Super Kings (2023, 2024) and Delhi Capitals (2025, 2026), he is yet to play his first IPL match.
Which IPL team does Ajay Mandal play for?
His current IPL team is Delhi Capitals, who bought him for INR 30 lakh at the IPL 2025 mega auction and retained him for 2026.
What is Ajay Mandal’s IPL price?
His last confirmed contract was INR 30 lakh with Delhi Capitals for IPL 2026. His IPL 2027 price is not officially confirmed.
What is Ajay Mandal’s role in cricket?
He is a left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder: a left-hand batter who bowls slow left-arm orthodox and plays for Chhattisgarh in domestic cricket.
What are Ajay Mandal’s IPL stats?
He has no IPL statistics because he is yet to debut. His domestic T20 record includes more than 50 wickets at an economy rate in the low sevens, and his first-class record includes over 2,000 runs and more than 130 wickets.
Why was Ajay Mandal bought by Delhi Capitals?
Delhi saw him as a back-up left-arm spin all-rounder in the Axar Patel mould: cover for the frontline spinner who can also bat in the lower order, at a low INR 30 lakh price.
Will Ajay Mandal play in IPL 2027?
That is not confirmed. Delhi Capitals have not yet announced their official retention list for IPL 2027, so his status depends on whether they retain him or he re-enters the auction.
What is Ajay Mandal’s highest score in professional cricket?
His highest professional score is 241 not out, made for Chhattisgarh against Uttarakhand in the 2019-20 Ranji Trophy — the highest Ranji score by a number eight batter.
Sources and Data Notes
Player profile and career details were checked against the Cricbuzz IPL auction database, the Crictracker player statistics pages, Sportskeeda’s player profile, CricXtasy’s IPL auction coverage, and the official IPL site (iplt20.com). Auction prices and retention statuses are drawn from published auction and retention reports. Statistics and player information are checked against available reliable sources and may be updated as new IPL matches, transfers, or official announcements are confirmed.
Statistics updated through: 8 October 2026
