3 reasons why bringing Krunal Pandya back to T20Is will be good decision for India
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Krunal Pandya played his last T20I in July 2021 For Team India.
Krunal Pandya has had two incredible seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in Indian Premier League (IPL). He played key roles for the franchise in winning the last two seasons. His bowling has certainly improved, and he is no longer a backup spinner.
With the bat, Krunal Pandya has performed impressively and won RCB some tense games. And now, it seems he is likely to get a result of his hard work, as reports in TOI suggested that the Indian selection committee is considering his name for the upcoming T20I series against Afghanistan from September 13.
Axar Patel was below average on the UK tour, and the selection committee is exploring other possible backup options. That is where Krunal can make his T20I comeback for India after five long years since 2021. Here we will discuss three possible reasons why his presence in T20Is is a good choice for India.
Reasons why bringing Krunal Pandya is a good choice for India in T20Is
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1. Big Match Player
Just like Hardik Pandya, Krunal also seems to not have a weak bone in him. He has always been a big-match player, irrespective of the stage or level. He is someone on whom you can bank when the odds are against him.
Even in the IPL, he is the only player in history to have two MOTM awards in the IPL finals: in 2017 (for Mumbai Indians) and 2025 (for Royal Challengers Bengaluru). He likes big stages, and that makes him a better choice than his competitors. India are the world champions, and they need such players.
2. Big-hitting capability
Krunal can use the long handle just like his brother when needed. He has won numerous games with the bat for MI in the IPL. Even for RCB, he has played a crucial role when needed with the bat. His ability to clear the boundaries and play at a good rate makes him a good batting option.
He can also bat at any number, which can give the current Indian T20I side a cushion. Krunal has a T20 career strike rate of over 130. He has also shown it for India. He slammed 58* off 31 on his ODI debut and 21* off 9 on his T20I debut for India.
3. Variations and accuracy with the ball
Krunal is not a big turner of the ball. That is why he needs more variations to succeed at the highest level. And he has certainly worked on himself. Unlike with his previous franchise, Krunal has adapted the role of leading spinner well for RCB.
Bowling at Chinnaswamy is one of the toughest jobs for a spinner, and he has done it pretty well. He can bowl with the new ball also, which opens up more options for the captain. Krunal can vary his pace and his accuracy with a left-arm angle makes him a good option for any T20I side.
When did Krunal Pandya play his last T20I for India?
Krunal Pandya’s last T20I was against Sri Lanka on July 25, 2021.
When did Krunal Pandya make his T20I debut for India?
Krunal played his first T20I for India in November 2018 against West Indies.
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