Krunal

Pandya

Krunal Pandya Biography and Career

Known for his aggressive approach to the game, both with the bat and ball, Krunal Pandya brings versatility to any team he represents. The dynamic all-rounder from Baroda, who bats left-handed and bowls slow left-arm orthodox, has secured a place for himself in the Indian cricket circuit, particularly in the shorter formats of the game.

Krunal is also the elder brother of another renowned Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Together, the Pandya brothers have become synonymous with amazing performances and match-winning contributions.

Starting off in domestic cricket, Krunal made significant progress to establish himself in the Indian Premier League (IPL), which eventually resulted in his selection in the Indian team.

Krunal made his first-class debut on October 6, 2016, playing for Baroda during the 2016–17 Ranji Trophy. However, his notable performance came in the 2016-17 Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he became the leading run scorer and leading wicket-taker for Baroda. In that season, the all-rounder scored 366 runs in 8 matches, including three half-centuries. In bowling, he took 11 wickets in 8 matches with an economy rate of 4.82 and his best bowling figure was 4/20.

His performance in domestic cricket led him to play for the India A team. In 2017, he participated in India's tri-series victory over South Africa A and Afghanistan A.

Krunal's ability to stabilize the innings, with both bat and ball, has made him a valuable asset in the cricket world. Very soon he got his chance to showcase his talent in the IPL. He was bought by Mumbai Indians (MI) in a 2016 auction for Rs 2 crore. His performance in the 2016 IPL season was much praised and he was named in the Cricinfo and Cricbuzz IPL XI.

In the 2017 IPL edition, Krunal was named the Player of the Match for his exceptional performance in a match against Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals). In the match, he scored 86 from 37 balls and took the wickets of Quinton De Kock and Zaheer Khan.

He continued to play for MI and in 2022 when the two new franchises were introduced in the IPL, he was bought by the Lucknow franchise for Rs 8.25 crore. However, before the IPL 2025 season, he was released by Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) and was acquired by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the mega auction for Rs 5.75 crore.

His domestic and IPL performances opened the door to play for the national team. His first breakthrough in the international career came in 2018. On November 4, 2018, Krunal made his debut in Twenty20 International (T20I) against West Indies. In his debut match, he performed decently, taking one wicket and scoring an unbeaten 21 runs off 9 balls.

However, he shone in a T20I game against Australia, where he was given the Player of the Match award for his bowling performance of 4/36 in 4 overs.

He continued to impress cricket experts with his performances and was subsequently called up to play for the Indian team in One Day Internationals (ODIs).

On March 23, 2021, he was named in India's ODI squad for their series against England. This year was also particularly significant for Krunal as he scored the fastest half-century by a debutant in ODI cricket. He scored 58 not out from 31 balls in his debut ODI match.

His all-round performances in domestic and international matches solidified his position as a key player in the Indian cricket team.

Krunal's performances have also received positive responses from fans and commentators. His all-round performance and ability to turn the match in his team's favour have made him an asset for the squad. While he has faced criticism at times, his dedication and determination towards the game have always shone through.

Beyond Cricket

Krunal Pandya is a family-oriented person who often shares glimpses of his personal life on social media. On December 27, 2017, he married his long-time girlfriend, Pankhuri Sharma. The couple are blessed with two sons.

The couple is often seen posting adorable pictures together along with their kids, giving fans a peek into their life off the field. Krunal is also passionate about fitness and often shares workout videos on his Instagram handle.

Apart from cricket, Krunal has also been seen singing and sharing his musical side, including Bollywood songs and even a song called "Kaun Hoon" with Girish Sadhwani.

He has also been in the news for his charity work. He along with his brother Hardik Pandya has pledged to donate 200 oxygen concentrators to the rural parts of India in 2021.

Outside cricket, Krunal has been involved in endorsing some of the brands. Kunal and his brother were signed up by HalaPlay, a fantasy gaming platform in India as brand ambassadors. Additionally, he has also endorsed Dream11, another major fantasy gaming app. Another brand Timestone Watches has signed Krunal as their brand ambassador.

Krunal Pandya Records

Krunal Pandya ODI Records:

• Fastest half-century on ODI debut (2021): Scored an unbeaten 58 runs off 31 balls against England on March 23, 2021, reaching his half-century in just 26 balls.

Krunal Pandya T20I Records: 

• Best bowling figure (2018): Took 4 wickets and gave 36 runs in a match against Australia. For his performance he was named the Player of the Match.

Krunal Pandya IPL Records: 

• Notable performance (2017): Delivered a match-winning performance in the 2017 IPL final against Rising Pune Supergiant, scoring a crucial 47 runs and earning the Player of the Match award.

• Best batting figure (2017): Scored 86 runs from 37 balls in a match against Delhi Daredevils (now Delhi Capitals).

Krunal Pandya Other formats:

• Leading run scorer and wicket-taker for Baroda in 2016-17 Vijay Hazare Trophy: Scored 366 runs in 8 matches, including three half centuries and took 11 wickets in 8 matches with economy rate of 4.82, and best bowling figure of 4/20.