Krunal Pandya hasn’t exactly set IPL on fire and isn’t the most talked-about cricketer in Mumbai Indians team, but is a handy man when it comes to bowling and can contribute with the bat as well. He showed glimpses by scoring a 4 ball 20 runs against SunRisers Hyderabad.
He believes the team whether it is Baroda, Mumbai Indians or India comes first. He has taken 5 wickets so far in 8 matches averaging 40.6 but has conceded less than 8 runs per over.
Krunal Pandya (Image Credit: Google)
Krunal Pandya Tried To Create An Impact In Bowling And Batting
Krunal Pandya has taken 45 wickets in 63 matches averaging 29.57 while he has scored 939 runs averaging 26.08. His highest score is 86 and best bowling performance is 3/14. Krunal Pandya is an all-rounder who bats left-handed and bowls slow left-arm orthodox spin.
“Yeah, I am playing this role for the last four-five overs. This year also I am happy with the way I have been going about with my batting and bowling. This year we have been doing really well and the top-order has done well so I haven’t really batted, but the little I have, I have tried to create an impact.”
Krunal Pandya. Photo Credit: Getty Images.
“Bowling wise also, I have tried to do well. I have bowled those crucial overs and I am happy how I have gone about it. And yes, like you said, it is a thankless job, but I love those tough situations and I wait for those as a player. You know, go out their and bail your team out from those tough situations and win games for the team,” he told ANI during an interaction with select media.
In January 2018, Krunal Pandya was bought by the Mumbai Indians in the 2018 IPL auction for Rs.2 crores.
Krunal Pandya Want To Comeback Into Indian Team
He plays for Baroda in domestic cricket and for Mumbai Indians in the IPL. He made his international debut for the Indian cricket team in November 2018. His last T20I match was in November 2019.
“I also want to comeback into the Indian team. If you see the games I have played for India, I have done well in terms of the bowling I did. I got Man of the Match awards. Overall I was happy with the journey with the Indian team. I am looking forward to making a comeback.”
“At the end of the day, I have never thought about it as an individual. I have always believed in keeping the team first, be it for India, Mumbai Indians or Baroda. Sometimes, if the required run-rate is 15 and you bowl a 6-run over, that is as good as a four-wicket haul.”
“Again, that 4-ball 20 against SRH created an impact and brought the momentum back for us. I never think about those big runs or picking wickets. It is about what is important for the team,” he explained.
He has represented India in 18 T20Is where he picked 14 wickets. He has picked up a 4 wicket haul as well. He is the elder brother of Hardik Pandya who is a pacer all-rounder and also represents Mumbai Indians in IPL. The 29-year-old Krunal Pandya debuted against West Indies in Kolkata in 2018 and played the last T20I in 2019 against Bangladesh.
