[1] A slow left-arm orthodox spin, Maninder was considered the heir apparent to Bishan Singh Bedi, who then held the record as India's leading spinner in terms of wickets.

He was regarded as heir apparent to Bedi, and at the height of his career, he was reputed to possess a huge variety in his arsenal.

He is also remembered for his dismissal in the Madras Test, resulting in a tie against Australia in the 1986–87 series.

It is alleged that they found 1.5 grams of cocaine in his residence in East Delhi, sold to him by a Nigerian national the police had been following.

In the early hours of 8 June 2007, Maninder was admitted to Shanti Mukund Hospital in Delhi with injuries to his wrists.