Krunal Pandya eyes more IPL success with RCB: This is just the beginning
RCB all-rounder Krunal Pandya played a key role in the franchise’s first IPL title win in 2025 with a stellar performance. However, he is not satisfied and is already aiming for more success with the Virat Kohli-starrer team in the upcoming season.
Krunal was player of the match in the IPL opener last year and capped the campaign with another POTM award in the final, helping Royal Challengers Bangalore end their 18-year wait for the title. In the process, he became the only player to win the Player of the Match award in two IPL finals, a feat he first achieved during Mumbai Indians’ title win in 2017.
The 2025 season was the best season of his IPL career. Krunal finished as the top finger spinner in the tournament and recorded his personal best bowling performance. He took 17 wickets, the second-highest for RCB after Josh Hazlewood’s 22, and established himself as a key option in pressure situations.
Krunal Pandya told ESPNcricinfo, “It feels really good that everything I said in 2022 has turned out exactly like that. After a 17-year drought, and again in the 18th season, RCB won the trophy and I’ve been a part of it – I had a nice, small contribution to their success – can’t ask for more than that. Going forward, I’m still hungry. I think this is just the beginning.”
Krunal also credited RCB spin-bowling coach Malolan Rangarajan for supporting his approach and encouraging him to expand his bowling, including using bouncers as options. He comes into IPL 2026 after his best season in the tournament and has more weapons in his bowling arsenal than ever before.
“Agreed. I’ll give Malolan a lot of credit. What happens as a player is, sometimes you know certain things are going to work for you but he gave me so much legitimacy, and he pushed me [into] doing that. He encouraged me to bowl slow and bowl bouncers, to take wickets. He said if you feel like this then you bowl a bouncer.”
“He supported me and trusted my understanding of the game to the point where it was just do what you want to do, don’t hold back [out]“Krunal said.
RCB will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Sunrisers Hyderabad at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on March 28, with Krunal looking to build on what he believes is the start of a successful phase.
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