During the first T20I between India and Windies at Eden Gardens (Kolkata) on last Sunday (November 4), the 27-year-old all-rounder Krunal Pandya made his international cricket debut and impressed with his brilliant all-round performances that secured a great victory for the hosts. His coach Jitendra Singh has satisfied with his brilliant performances in that game.
After more than two-and-a-half-year later of his younger brother, Hardik Pandya’s international cricket debut (during the T20I match against Australia at Adelaide on 26 January 2016), Krunal made his international cricket debut on last Sunday.
In that debutant game, the left-arm spinner first provided an impressive bowling figure of 4-0-15-1 and then the left-handed batsman played a crucial match-winning knock of unbeaten 21 runs off just 9 balls (3 fours) to secure a brilliant victory for his nation. Chasing down just 110 runs, Indian top-order batsmen failed to provide the good starts and it was a very tough situation in the middle but the wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik (31* off 34 balls) and Krunal Pandya guided the team to a convincing victory in the end.
Talking about that innings, Krunal’s coach Jitendra told PTI on Monday, “Yes Krunal did well and batted as per the situation (of the game), which is a good thing. I am very satisfied and there is always score of improvement. Finishing a match has been there in my coaching philosophy. A good player is the one who finishes the match and you should not leave it for anyone else. And he (Krunal) did that yesterday which I felt was more satisfactory.”
The Pandya brothers both have come to the first limelight through the Indian Premier League (IPL). Speaking about the triggering moment for Krunal’s cricketing career, Jitendra said his brief story during his U-23 career for Baroda.
Krunal’s coach said, “There was a U-23 match and he was in the Baroda side. But after that particular match, he (Krunal) was dropped from the side. After that, he started focussing (on the game) more. After that he started working hard towards the game and his attitude towards the game changed.”
Meanwhile, Krunal and Hardik’s father Himanshu Pandya is feeling proud on both of his sons.
Talking on Krunal’s international cricket debut, Himanshu said, “It was Krunal’s dream to play for India and that has been fulfilled.”
