All-rounder Krunal Pandya opened up about how his cricketing identity—and his outlook as a person—has evolved through years of learning, setbacks and success. While reflecting on his journey with Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL, he stressed that although he has changed for the better, the fundamentals of who he is have stayed the same: a love for the game, deep commitment to family, and a grounded response to winning. He also revisited several defining moments, including his RCB debut against Kolkata Knight Riders, a high-pressure Wankhede Stadium encounter versus Mumbai Indians, the emotions around lifting the IPL trophy, and a match-winning unbeaten knock of 73 against Delhi Capitals at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in IPL 2025.
Key takeaways
- Krunal said his growth over time has made him “humbler,” crediting his upbringing and family values for keeping him grounded.
- He described his RCB debut versus Kolkata Knight Riders as an early struggle that he corrected using breakthroughs in quick succession.
- At Wankhede against Mumbai Indians, he explained how tactical bowling and defending in the final over helped RCB seal a famous win.
- He praised Virat Kohli and RCB’s fans as the most deserving people for the IPL title, recalling an emotional scene when Kohli broke down.
- Krunal highlighted his unbeaten 73 against Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025, linking his innings control to reading the pitch and adjusting pacing.
From lessons to humility: Krunal on his personal evolution
Krunal began by describing how the journey has shaped him “for the better,” adding that every stage brings lessons. In his view, parents and the environment they provided remain central to his character. He said that while his perspective has matured, his core self has not changed—he still approaches cricket with the same excitement and passion to play.
He also underlined the importance of being a family man, speaking about his love for his family, his wife, and his children. For him, success has been a test with two possible outcomes: either it can make someone “go crazy” or it can help them become more humble. Krunal said he has taken the second path, and that is why family remains vital alongside cricket, which he described as being “in his blood” and everywhere in his mindset.
Debut drama vs KKR: excitement, a rough start and a comeback
Next, Krunal revisited his memorable IPL debut for RCB against Kolkata Knight Riders. He recalled the build-up to the match, noting how the opening ceremony had just taken place and how Shah Rukh Khan was on stage while the crowd chanted. The excitement felt immediate, and he admitted that if RCB could win that contest, it would be “fun.”
However, his first spell brought instant turbulence. He bowled his opening over in the Powerplay and conceded 15 runs. He remembered thinking that something was not going right as KKR moved quickly, reaching 110 in ten overs. Rather than panic, he told himself he needed to fight back.
In his next over—his eleventh of the innings—he got Ajinkya Rahane out at deep square leg. Soon after, he turned to a tactical decision involving Venkatesh Iyer, who he observed was batting without a helmet. Krunal said he opted for a bouncer, and while it helped trigger the helmet adjustment, it also set up the next delivery. On a quick second ball, he had Venkatesh Iyer bowled. Krunal framed it as something fast bowlers do, emphasising how the plan and execution came together after the early setbacks.
Wankhede vs Mumbai Indians: defending the last over under pressure
Krunal then looked back at a crucial clash at Wankhede Stadium against his former side Mumbai Indians, saying the venue has always been special because of the electric atmosphere. He explained that RCB posted around 220 and, at one stage, it seemed like victory was within reach. Momentum swung when Hardik Pandya entered the batting and struck quickly—hitting a 15-ball 40-odd—which changed how the match unfolded.
With the game’s direction shifting, Krunal said he knew he would have to bowl the final over and trusted himself to defend. He added that the match carried additional satisfaction because he had dismissed Will Jacks earlier using a bouncer—something he had planned ahead of the IPL. He also described the pitch as so flat that he was unsure where to aim his deliveries, leading him to experiment with a couple of wide yorkers before choosing the bouncer in his second over, which proved successful.
For him, the closing phases were especially intense. He said Santner was batting while a short leg-side boundary made it hard to find the right risk-reward balance. Krunal described setting an unusual field with a deep point and then going for a wide yorker to use the longer boundary, which he felt worked in his favour. He also mentioned that he bowled a bouncer to Deepak Chahar, and Phil Salt held onto a good catch. Krunal said he conceded only a few runs in the over, and RCB ultimately won—calling it a truly special game.
Winning the title: emotions for Virat Kohli and RCB fans
On the emotional high of lifting the IPL trophy with RCB, Krunal reserved special praise for Virat Kohli and the franchise’s passionate supporters. He said the people who deserved it most were Kohli and the RCB fans, describing Kohli as an integral part of the team from the opening season. Krunal said it was moving to see Kohli’s emotions after the title win.
He recalled the feeling among everyone connected to RCB—whether supporters or members of the squad—when Kohli broke down. Krunal also shared a memory from a match against Chennai, when the team was heading out on the bus and he noticed how intense the love for RCB was. He said he told the crowd on the mic that whatever happened, they needed to bring the trophy home for the fans.
Reflecting on that message, Krunal said he was glad he had spoken those words and that the team delivered in the final. He emphasised that the supporters deserved the trophy more than anyone else, with Virat also included in that recognition. Krunal added that playing for the country remains his top priority, but winning the IPL with RCB after 18 years—especially while contributing in his best season—stands among his biggest moments.
IPL 2025 vs Delhi Capitals: his unbeaten 73 and reading the pitch
Krunal also spoke about his match-winning unbeaten 73 against Delhi Capitals during their IPL 2025 meeting at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. He explained that the surface was slightly tricky, noting that many IPL wickets are flat, but the one in Delhi offered a different challenge. He said he conceded only 28 runs in his bowling spell, used slower balls and worked with the pitch, and he also dismissed Faf du Plessis. For him, having bowled on the wicket gave a clearer understanding of how it would play when he came in to bat.
He described that earlier in the tournament he had not batted much because the top order had been performing well. Then, at 20 for 3, he walked in. He said the knock came around RCB’s seventh or eighth game of the season, and at that stage there was pressure. He recalled Virat Kohli telling him to “keep holding your shape,” with the belief that the team would get there.
Krunal said that in his first 17 to 18 balls he scored slowly, but he trusted the batting depth behind him—pointing to power hitters such as Tim David, Romario Shepherd and Jitesh Sharma. His plan, he said, was to take the game deep so RCB could stay in it. Once he got set, he began playing his shots and everything “fell into place,” leading to the unbeaten finish.
