Royal Challengers Bengaluru all-rounder Krunal Pandya acknowledged that he had to dig deep into his decade-long experience of taking part in the sport to assist his facet beat Mumbai Indians by 12 runs in an edge-of-the-seat thriller right here on Monday.
Just when it appeared Mumbai Indians would chase down a steep goal of 222 with Hardik Pandya (42) and Tilak Varma (56) batting with ferocity, Krunal stored his composure and grabbed three three wickets in the final over to take the wind out of the house workforce’s sails, managing to tie them down to 209 for 9.
“The amount of games I have played in the last 10 years, whatever experience I had, it had to come in right. Sometimes, you want to commit but you know it is important to commit 100 per cent,” stated Krunal, who returned glorious figures of 4 for 45, after the match.
“So the execution becomes much on your side. I was clear in a way where I wanted to commit fully to whatever ball I wanted to bowl,” Krunal added as RCB clinched their first victory on the Wankhede Stadium in 10 years.
On his bonding with brother Hardik, who hit some lofty pictures and was on the verge of taking the sport away from RCB together with his 15-ball knock, Krunal stated the 2 cherish the love they’ve for one another.
“The bond that we have, at the end of the day, we knew only one (Pandya) would win. But the love and affection we have for each other is very natural. He (Hardik) batted well. We won, and I also wanted to win, he also wanted to win. I feel for him,” stated Krunal.
Krunal added that RCB skipper Rajat Patidar at all times again his gamers, one of many causes they’ve began so strongly in IPL 2025.
RCB are at the moment third with six factors from 4 video games whereas MI have simply two from 5 matches.
“Rajat has been terrific the way he has started. A captain who gives you that comfort, he gives you the ball and backs your game-plan. Sometimes as a bowler, you want that.
“He has a relaxed manner, doesn’t make issues sophisticated. Been good taking part in below him. Jitesh (Sharma, 40 not out) has been terrific, he has improved his sport. The sport consciousness whereas batting has been top-notch, and with the gloves, he has been terrific at all times.”
On whether or not RCB can break the IPL jinx this time round, Krunal stated, “I don’t desire to jinx it or say it, however everyone knows what you need on the finish of the season. Just need to hold my head down and hold profitable.”
MI skipper Hardik said there was not much his bowlers could do to stop the flow of runs on this surface.
“It was a run-fest. The wicket was actually good. I was simply speaking about that to myself. We fell brief with two hits, do not know what to say. The approach the wicket was, the bowlers didn’t actually have a lot area to cover.
“It came down to execution. You can stop the batters, but I don’t want to be harsh on the bowlers. It was a tough track, not much options. 5-10, maybe 12 runs I can say (we conceded more),” he stated.
He was, nevertheless, pleased that Jasprit Bumrah was again in the facet after recovering from an harm.
“Having him (Bumrah) makes this team, any team in the world really special. He came and did his job, very happy to have him. In life, never back down, always see the positive side of it.
“The message might be very clear: go on the market and check out to play one of the best cricket of your life. We are all backing them and hope for the outcome to come our approach,” he added.
Published – April 08, 2025 04:39 am IST
