Indian Premier League is the grandest franchise league in the entire world. It has enthralled the minds of cricket fans globally. And the credit for the success of IPL has to be given to the franchises, who gain tremendous support of masses. More often than not, the credit for the success of franchises is given to the cricket stars who play on the field. But more than the players, it is the people who work hard and stay away from limelight, who contribute massively to the team's success. All of these people are highly underrated, yet crucial for the smooth conduct of teams and the league.

And out of all these people, the one's who stand the tallest are perhaps the team managers. From managing the workload of players, to following the itinerary of the team as well as the players individually, the managers work day in and day out to ensure the well being of the entire group of people in the franchise. The managers have a lion's share in the success of any team, and yet they remain behind the curtains with not much on screen exposure. Which is why, at times it becomes important for us to know about the stories of these team managers. And today, we share the story of one such team manager, Mr Prashant Jangam.

The team manager of the joint most successful franchise in the history of IPL was noticed by many fans when one saw all the Mumbai Indians' players heap praises on him. The stars of world cricket passionately speaking about their team manager was loved by all the cricket fans. And amidst the enthusiasm and curiosity from the fans to know who he is, one saw his smiling face while listening to his team members fondly speak about him. One can only imagine how satisfied he felt after seeing that happen. Pretty much sure that nostalgia must have hit him reminding him of all his journey from his earliest memories of the game, to that particular day.

Prashant's journey began in the city of dreams. He was born and brought up in the heart of Mumbai. And since he was born in the cradle of Indian cricket, it was evident that he fell in love with the gentleman's game. He started playing professional cricket, and greatly excelled in it. He played for the Mumbai circuit for significant amount of time. Apart from Mumbai circuit, he also played in the Minor County League in UK before joining Mumbai Indians as a support staff member, while continuing to play cricket for Reliance. He hails from a family of social workers, and hence his urge to help anyone in need was passed on to him through his genes.

Which is why, he joined Mumbai Indians initially as a net bowler supplier. In this way, he helped the talented lads to practice alongside the stars of Mumbai Indians, and helped his team to get the adequate practice through his connections. It was a win-win for the franchise as well as for the net bowlers whom he recommended. Since he played in the circuit for a long time, he recommended some good talents as net bowlers. Along with just the net bowlers, he also provided ball boys for the on-field assistance during matches.

Realizing how hard he was working, he was promoted to the role of Logistics Manager. With increased responsibility, he worked even more meticulously, ensuring that all the logistic support to the franchise is met with complete strength. On one side, he kept hustling and working day and night for the franchise selflessly without any expectation, and on the other side his franchise stakeholders had a keen eye on him seeing him put in so much of effort. And his efforts eventually yielded results, as he was promoted to the prestigious position of Team Manager during the 2023 IPL season.

His journey from being a cricket lover, to an aspiring cricketer, to a net bowler supplier, to a logistics manager to eventually be the Team Manager of Mumbai Indians is truly full of twists and turns. And it is inspiring for many individuals who wish to do something for the game. In a world where most of the things work on the basis of favouritism, his success purely based on his merit sets an example for every single person out there. He didn't just wait for his luck to make things happen, but he made his own fortune by sheer dedication towards the game with his ability of tirelessly working harder for his franchise.

As MI turned out to be lucky for him, similarly he turned out to be extremely lucky for the team. He joined the team in 2013, and the same year MI won their first ever title, and then went on to win 4 more in just a decade to follow. His unwritten or unseen role in this success of franchise is huge, which was clearly mentioned by the franchise stars in the video. When the global stars say that they bank on him for anything and everything, that just sums up to what he means to the team and franchise. Which is why, he doesn't just manage Mumbai Indians, but also does it for all the leagues where the MI franchise is in action. And we wish to see him continue to do the same for many more years for the team in Blue and Gold. On the occasion of his birthday, we pray to God that he continues to serve MI forever, and that his story inspires many more people. Happy birthday Prashant Dada.