Krunal Pandya Interview: ‘Nothing bigger than playing for the country’ — RCB star holds onto India dream

BENGALURU: Nearly 15 years ago, on matting wickets in Palej, a small town in Gujarat’s Bharuch district, a lanky youngster learnt the value of adaptation. Bowling with coated balls in local village tournaments, he quickly realised there would be little assistance for spin and survival depended on discipline, control and innovation. Those early lessons in constantly reinventing himself continue to define Krunal Pandya even today, as he features in his 11th Indian Premier League season.

The elder of the Pandya brothers, Krunal, who has represented India in five ODIs and 19 T20Is, has emerged as a vital cog in defending champions Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s spin attack over the past two seasons. Krunal’s impactful spell of 2/17 in last year’s final earned him the Player of the Match award and underlined his value in pressure situations. As RCB push to defend their crown, the 35-year-old left-arm spinner is also quietly nurturing hopes of an India comeback, having last worn national colours in July 2021.

Years of hard work on and off the field, coupled with the highs and lows of professional cricket, have made Krunal more reflective and grounded. Now one of the most experienced all-rounders in the league, he remains driven by the urge to evolve and contribute. In an exclusive interview with TOI, Krunal — who has played 152 IPL matches since making his debut for Mumbai Indians in 2016 — spoke about longevity, reinventing his bowling and his enduring India ambitions.

Excerpts: It’s your 11th year in the IPL. How do you see your evolution as a player? The evolution feels very grateful and honestly, when you start playing at the highest level, you want to play as long as you can.