March 23, 2025: In the opening match of the IPL 2025 season, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) all-rounder Krunal Pandya displayed his tactical brilliance with the ball, particularly when he bowled a surprise bouncer to Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) record-signing Venkatesh Iyer.
During the 12th over of KKR’s innings, Venkatesh came to the crease without wearing a helmet. Seizing the opportunity, Krunal cleverly bowled a bouncer. Venkatesh read it early and managed to evade it, but the next delivery saw him wearing a helmet and attempting to use his wrist to play the shot. However, he ended up dragging the ball onto his stumps, getting out for a duck.
Reflecting on the delivery, Krunal said in the post-match presentation, “If it’s a wide yorker or a bouncer, or if you have something in your armoury, why not use it?”
Before getting Venkatesh out, Krunal had already accounted for KKR’s captain Ajinkya Rahane, who had been playing an aggressive knock. Rahane, who was timing the ball beautifully, fell into Krunal’s trap, skimming a shot straight into the hands of Rasikh Salam, departing for a score of 56 from 31 balls.
Krunal’s spell didn’t stop there. He also took the crucial wicket of Rinku Singh, outsmarting him with a quicker delivery. Rinku tried to pull the ball but missed as it skidded past his bat and hit the stumps, leaving Rinku out for a duck as well.
Krunal’s performance of 3/29 helped him claim the Player of the Match award, as he single-handedly dismantled KKR’s batting lineup. Speaking about his approach, he said, “When you play against so much crowd, I had to narrow down my focus. If I get hit, I had to get hit off a good ball. Glad that I could deliver. You have to go with the flow, how cricket is evolving. Batters have the skill set to hit sixes consistently. You also have to up your game to make sure I bowl quicker.”
Krunal also highlighted his versatility, saying that he had experimented with a change of pace, something typically associated with pacers, to enhance his game.
Krunal, who was acquired by RCB from Lucknow Super Giants for Rs 5.75 crore during the mega auction, shared his excitement about being part of the team. “It’s been amazing. When I got into the team, I realized how much madness there is. The crowd support you get, even in domestic cricket, there are people chanting RCB. It’s been 10 days since I joined, and it’s been pretty good,” he said.
His all-round performance helped restrict KKR to 174/8. In reply, RCB’s opening pair of Virat Kohli and Philip Salt made light work of the chase, with a solid 95-run partnership setting the stage for a comfortable 7-wicket victory.