Krunal Pandya's Bowling Brilliance Leads RCB to Victory Over KKR in IPL 2025 Opener
Krunal Pandya Shines in IPL 2025 Opener
Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], March 23: In a thrilling start to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) all-rounder Krunal Pandya showcased his bowling prowess against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), particularly targeting their high-profile signing, Venkatesh Iyer.
During the 12th over, Iyer came to bat without a helmet, prompting Krunal to surprise him with a bouncer. Iyer, however, was quick to react and evaded the delivery.
On the subsequent ball, Iyer donned his helmet but misplayed a shot, resulting in him dragging the ball onto his stumps.
"If you have a bouncer or a wide yorker in your toolkit, why not use it?" Krunal remarked during the post-match interview.
Before outsmarting Iyer, Krunal had already dismissed KKR's captain, Ajinkya Rahane, who was in fine form, scoring 56 runs off 31 balls before falling to a catch by Rasikh Salam.
Krunal concluded his impressive spell by deceiving Rinku Singh with a faster delivery, which led to Singh's stumps being shattered.
With figures of 3 wickets for 29 runs, Krunal earned the Player of the Match title, reflecting on his strategy against a formidable batting lineup.
"In front of such a crowd, I had to maintain my focus. If I get hit, it should be off a good delivery. I'm pleased with my performance. Cricket is evolving, and batters are capable of hitting sixes consistently," he explained.
Krunal, who was picked up by RCB from Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 5.75 crore during the mega auction, expressed his excitement about joining the franchise, describing the experience as "amazing."
"The atmosphere is electric. Even in domestic matches, RCB fans are vocal. It's been just 10 days since I joined, and it's been fantastic," he added.
Krunal's outstanding performance helped restrict KKR to 174 runs for 8 wickets. In response, RCB's explosive opening duo of Virat Kohli and Philip Salt set a solid foundation with a 95-run partnership, leading to a convincing 7-wicket victory.