Anil Kumble heaped praise on Krunal Pandya for his brilliant match performance where Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) won against Delhi Capitals (DC) by six wickets on Sunday, April 27, at Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi. Krunal was really the star of the show that day, scoring an impressive 73 runs off 47 balls. His innings consisted of five boundaries and four sixes, which resulted in his selection as Player of the Match. With Krunal’s efforts, RCB chased 163 runs in 18.3 overs.
Krunal came in to bat when RCB was struggling at 26 for 3 after just four overs. It was tough at that time, but together with Virat Kohli, Krunal steadied the ship and put together a fightback with an outstanding 119-run partnership for the fourth wicket, which was definitely pivotal in a much-needed victory for the RCB.
Kumble had some interesting words for Krunal’s strategy during the game. He stated that Krunal took his time settling down and began to attack the spinners. Kumble emphasized that Krunal did justice with the expectations laid down by the RCB management. He added: “His understanding of the game was spot on. When he came in, it was a tough time for RCB, and he knew partnering with Virat was key. After settling down, against the spinners, whenever the opportunity arose, he took charge. He played beautifully, and he had a good understanding of the pitch and of what was required at that moment. It was just an outstanding innings.”
Kumble also said the RCB management had hoped Krunal would rise to the occasion there. It was a situation reminiscent of games gone by at the Chinnaswamy Stadium which RCB struggled to piece together. Someone needed to step up and build a solid partnership, and Krunal had done just that.
In addition to his stunning performance with the bat, Krunal stamped his authority with the ball, getting Faf du Plessis and finishing with bowling figures of 1 for 28 in four overs. RCB’s next game is against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on May 3, and the fans would be hoping that Krunal carries on with his good form.
