Krunal Pandya Credits Dinesh Karthik for RCB's Batting Improvement

In a recent match against Mumbai Indians, Krunal Pandya delivered a remarkable performance, scoring 73 runs and leading Royal Challengers Bangalore to victory. He credited the team's batting improvement to mentor Dinesh Karthik, who has dedicated time to understand each player's strengths and weaknesses. Krunal emphasized the importance of a clear approach in pressure situations and expressed his enjoyment in taking on responsibilities for the team. His insights shed light on the collaborative efforts that contribute to RCB's success in the IPL.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 11, 2026, 17:57 IST

Krunal Pandya Praises Dinesh Karthik's Influence

All-rounder Krunal Pandya has attributed the recent improvement in Royal Challengers Bangalore's batting to the guidance of team mentor and batting coach Dinesh Karthik, following his impressive performance against Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. Despite not being fully fit, Krunal scored 73 runs off 46 balls, leading RCB to a thrilling last-ball victory and securing the top position in the points table.

In a post-match press conference, Krunal remarked, 'If you look at last year and even this year, the credit for the batting improvement goes to Dinesh Karthik.' He emphasized that Karthik has spent considerable time with each player, understanding their strengths and weaknesses, and is always ready to assist the batsmen. 'There’s no doubt that a significant part of our batting success is due to DK,' he added.

Krunal also noted that RCB's clear approach in pressure situations has been beneficial for him. He explained, 'We discussed that if there’s a bowler you like and feel you can handle, just play his six balls well.' He shared that due to cramps, taking singles was challenging, so he decided to stand firm and face all six deliveries to maximize his impact.

Having batted at various positions throughout his IPL career, Krunal expressed his enjoyment in taking responsibility during tough situations. 'I appreciate that the team trusts me and assigns me different roles. I’ve never focused on personal achievements; I always aim to understand the team’s situation and resolve it as simply as possible.'