Krunal: "If you get punished, make sure it's from a good ball."

Krunal Marks RCB Debut with Match-Winning Spell: "If You Get Hit, Let It Be Off a Good Ball"

Krunal Pandya celebrated his debut as Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s (RCB) lead spinner in style, delivering a game-changing 3 for 29 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the IPL 2025 opener. His scalps — Ajinkya Rahane, Venkatesh Iyer, and Rinku Singh — came in a decisive middle-overs burst (11th to 15th), just when KKR looked poised for a 200-plus score at 107 for 2.

Speaking after the match, Krunal shared insights into his approach:
"Playing in front of such a big crowd, you need to narrow your focus. That’s what I did after going for 15 in my first over. I focused purely on execution. If you get hit, it should only be off a good delivery."

Though match-up logic might have suggested delaying his introduction — with KKR’s left-hand-heavy middle order — new captain Rajat Patidar trusted Krunal early, and he responded with vital breakthroughs.

One of his wickets, Venkatesh Iyer, had to call for a helmet after being surprised by a sharp bouncer — a variation that reflects Krunal's evolving arsenal.

"You have to go with the flow," Krunal explained. "Batters today are constantly upping their game, so bowlers must too. One reason I bowled quicker was to give them less time. I’ve got variations — bouncers, wide yorkers — and Jitesh [Sharma, the keeper] knows I might try anything at any time. If you've got the tools, use them."

RCB's spin attack impressed beyond Krunal. Legspinner Suyash Sharma, expensive in his initial spell, bounced back in the 16th over with the prized wicket of Andre Russell — courtesy of a deceptive googly.

Captain Patidar credited the bowling unit for turning the game around:
"We wanted Russell's wicket, and Suyash delivered. Even though he went for runs earlier, I backed him — he’s our key spinner. From 131 in 13 overs, we showed courage. That fight was amazing."

Meanwhile, KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane, despite a fluent 56, pointed to a middle-order collapse as the turning point. Following a 103-run stand between Rahane and Narine, the innings lost momentum, ending on 174 for 8.

"At one point, we felt 210-220 was within reach. But losing a few quick wickets shifted the momentum," Rahane said. "There was some dew, but 170-180 was below par on this pitch. We were aiming for more."

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