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Manish Pandey helped Kolkata Knight Riders to a four-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League on Wednesday, with assistant ​coach Shane Watson saying the performance underlined the 36-year-old's value ‌to the side. Chasing 147, Kolkata found themselves in a difficult spot at 54-3 before Pandey's knock of 45 from 33 balls brought some much-needed stability and set ​up a victory which kept his side's playoff hopes alive.

"This is ​the best I've seen him bat over the last few ⁠years," Watson told reporters. "He adds so much value. He's obviously a ​super-experienced guy. He's an amazing fielder. He adds so much energy ​to our group, whether it's off the field, on the field, or around the group. "Those types of people, you give anything to be able to have them in your ​squad, let alone then out in the middle when we're chasing a ​challenging total on that pitch."

Pandey is one of just three players, along with Virat ‌Kohli ⁠and Rohit Sharma, to have played in every season of the IPL since it began in 2008.
"I'm not sure how he's doing it," the former Australia all-rounder added.

"I know when I was at his age, I ​certainly was moving ​nothing like he's ⁠moving in the field. He's still incredibly fit. "It seems the way he's looking after himself, his preparation coming ​into this tournament as well, shows that he's still ​got several years of really good cricket in front of him." Kolkata, who are sixth in the standings, play Delhi Capitals in their final league-stage game ⁠on ​Sunday. The three-time IPL champions have an outside ​shot of qualifying for the play-offs, but need to beat Delhi and have other results go ​in their favour.