Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Delhi Capitals (DC) by 5 wickets at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on April 27. Krunal Pandya played an exceptional innings alongside Virat Kohli, helping their team maintain a perfect away record this season.
Delhi Capitals set a target of 163 runs for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. RCB had a disastrous start, losing three quick wickets during the powerplay, which prompted Krunal Pandya to come up the batting order. He and Virat Kohli forged a match-winning partnership of 119 runs off 84 balls, leading RCB to a dramatic comeback against Delhi Capitals.
Krunal Pandya was instrumental in this chase, finishing unbeaten on 73 runs from 47 balls, including 5 fours and 4 sixes. His conversion rate in this match was exceptional. Meanwhile, Virat Kohli adhered to his typical chase strategy, supporting Pandya and ensuring no further wickets fell as he scored a half-century off 45 balls—the slowest half-century of the season by any batter.
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Krunal Pandya was awarded Player of the Match for his outstanding innings and for taking the key wicket of Faf du Plessis in the first innings. During the post-match presentation, he expressed his elation over his contributions to the team's success, emphasizing the hard work they put in during practice.
"It is always good to see the results. Sometimes, when you have put in the hard work behind the scenes, it feels great when it pays off. It is quite satisfying,” he said.
Krunal Pandya Reflects on Virat Kohli's Crucial Role
Krunal also shared his insights on his crucial partnership with Virat Kohli, explaining how Kohli's support helped him recover from a shaky start after the early wickets fell.
"When Virat is at the other end, it is quite easy. The first 20 balls were scratchy for me, but he kept backing me. Then I got my mojo back. A lot of credit goes to Virat."
Krunal Pandya About his Role in RCB
In addition to his batting, Krunal expressed his satisfaction with his bowling performance. He noted that his primary focus is to excel as a bowler, considering his batting as a complementary role. He also discussed his arsenal of short-pitch deliveries, yorkers, and stock balls, attributing his execution to the extra effort he puts into practice.
"I have worked on my bowling. If you observe the variations in speed and the knowledge of the batsmen's strengths, I aim to use that to my advantage. I'm glad it’s working in my favor. Over time, my bowling is improving. As a bowler, I've realized we need to stay one step ahead. I've been practicing bouncers and wide yorkers, and I’ve recognized their importance in my game."
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Currently, RCB is at the top of the points table, with Josh Hazelwood holding the purple cap and Virat Kohli holding the orange cap as RCB dominates the IPL 2025.
