Latest news with #Krunal
NDTV
2 days ago
- Sport
- NDTV
"Received Flak After Auction...": RCB Coach's Ultimate Response To Critics After IPL 2025 Triumph
Acquiring a lethal bowling attack in the mega auction and picking players with experience were "huge first steps" in Royal Challengers Bengaluru's march to their maiden IPL title, said head coach Andy Flower. RCB defeated Punjab Kings by six runs in the final here on Tuesday to end their long wait in the 18th edition of the tournament, and Flower said it all began with the franchise making the right moves in the auction last year. "The auction is a huge first step that you've got to try and get as right as possible and (as a) part of (team director) Mo's (Mo Bobat) philosophy right up front, was to distribute the value a little more equitably rather than spending too much on big-name batsmen who are, of course, very fine players," Flower told the media after RCB's title win. "The importance of a good bowling attack was acknowledged absolutely adamantly right at the start before the auction and we worked towards that." The win also helped batting great Virat Kohli fulfil his dream of winning an IPL title. "I know after the first day of the auction, we were copping a little bit of flak. People thought that we were investing our money rather than spending it. But it meant that there was some really good value to be had on the second day," the former Zimbabwe captain said. Flower counted the players RCB added to their roster during the auction in November at Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. "We had the money to then spend on that value. We got guys like Bhuvi (Bhuvneshwar Kumar), Krunal (Pandya), Tim David, Romario Shepherd on that second day so that was really important," he said. "Suyash Sharma has done really well for us — our little leg spinner. I thought he has handled himself really well through the season. "Krunal is a big match player and a great competitor and that spell today (Tuesday) was the major difference between the teams," said Flower of Pandya, who returned match-winning figures of 4-0-17-2. Flower said having players with experience of competing in big matches also came in handy for RCB. "We talked about that yesterday when we were in our planning meetings and earlier this evening in the huddle before the game started. We had a good group of experienced cricketers in our team," he said. "Guys like, obviously, Virat (Kohli), (Josh) Hazlewood, Krunal Pandya, a big part of their recruitment was their experience. Hazlewood has played in World Cup finals before. He has played in big matches and big tournaments, as has Virat. "Krunal, this is his fourth IPL win so it was crucial recruiting them in the first place. The auction is a huge step in the right direction if you can get it right," Flower added. He said the total of 190/9 wasn't a huge score but they trusted their bowling attack to deliver on the night. "Yes, 190 didn't seem like a huge score at this ground. As you know, like an average winning score this season is 220 or something," he said. "I wouldn't say it was below par, because in a final to go and score 190, you've still got to play really well. We have got a good bowling attack and we trusted that the bowlers would come to the party in that second innings," he said. Flower acknowledged Dinesh Karthik's role as team mentor cum batting coach. "Indian insight and knowledge in our coaching staff has been really important for this campaign this year. DK, particularly, as a mentor and a batting specialist, he's been brilliant," Flower said. "It's quite a transition to make from playing to coaching, and he has done it amazingly well, and it's very obvious that he has had an impact, certainly on the batting group," he said. Flower said while the pitch had a little bit of moisture, it made batting a bit difficult for the RCB batters. "There was a little bit of moisture in the pitch initially and it held up a little, so that made batting a little bit tricky for us in the first innings. We would have bowled first if we had won the toss," he said. "It might have felt a little slow to a lot of people. But there were little cameos along the way from a lot of our batting group. Good, aggressive little cameos that took us to 190." "(A score of) 190 is a big chase when the pressure of winning the cup is on. So, even though we lost the toss, we handled ourselves really well," Flower added.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Krunal Pandya strikes the Khaby pose with IPL trophy after match-winning Final performance
Ahmedabad: Royal Challengers Bengaluru Krunal Pandya (PTI Photo/Arun Sharma) Just hours after delivering a stunning spell in the IPL 2025 final that helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru lift their maiden title, Krunal Pandya took to social media to mark the moment and in a style only he could pull off. In a viral photo posted across his social channels, the RCB all-rounder struck the iconic Khaby Lame pose — standing stone-faced next to the IPL trophy with both palms pointed towards it, as if to say, 'Here's your answer.' The image instantly caught fire online, symbolising Krunal's cheeky response to critics who questioned his move to RCB and doubted his match-winning credentials. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The post came just after Krunal was named Player of the Match for his magnificent 2/17 spell in the final against Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. With PBKS requiring 191 for victory, Krunal dismissed the dangerous Prabhsimran Singh and Josh Inglis at crucial moments, choking Punjab's chase and sealing a dramatic six-run win for RCB. 'A particularly special feeling': Andy Flower hails Virat Kohli, RCB after historic title win Quiz: Who's that IPL player? It wasn't just the trophy that did the talking, Krunal also reminded fans during the post-match presentation that the Pandya household now boasts nine IPL trophies in 11 years. A fourth title for Krunal personally, the triumph also validated his Rs 5.75 crore price tag and the faith RCB showed in acquiring him at the auction. While the image was playful, the message was clear: this was Krunal's moment — and he didn't need to say a word to make his point.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- NDTV
Krunal Pandya Called Hardik After RCB Won IPL 2025 Title, A Stunning Conversation Unfolded
Krunal Pandya, who was named Player of the Match in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 18th edition final against Punjab Kings, revealed that he called his brother Hardik after the game and cited that the Pandya household has nine IPL trophies in 11 years. Krunal, who Bengaluru acquired for Rs 5.75 crore, unleashed every weapon from his fully-loaded arsenal in the high-stakes final and left the spectators spellbound and returning with figures of 2/17 in his four-over spell. He single-handedly broke the backbone of Punjab's attempt to hunt down the 191-run target and steered Bengaluru to a six-run triumph and RCB's first IPL trophy victory. While receiving the Player of the Match award, Krunal spilt the beans about the conversations he had with his brother Hardik and reminded him about the number of IPL titles they have had in the last decade. "When I joined RCB, I said that I loved winning trophies. After three and a half months, glad I was able to fulfil what I said on Day 1. Been pretty good - 10 years, 4 IPL trophies. I also told Hardik on the phone that there will be 9 IPL trophies in the Pandya household in 11 years," Krunal said in the post-match presentation. In his memorable outing, Krunal returned with the priceless scalps of Prabhsimran Singh (26) and Josh Inglis (39) to derail Punjab's attempts to chase the target. The trick behind Krunal's success was deceiving the batters by varying his pace and having the "guts" to execute it because it leaves the bowler with no margin of error. "When we batted in the first innings, I was sitting outside and chatting with the batters. I realised the slower you bowl, the better. But in this format, as a bowler, you need guts to do that because the margin of error is small," he said. "I just backed myself and thought that if I'm able to vary my pace and keep it more on the slower side, I'll create chances rather than just coming and firing it in. What has been my biggest strength is learning what the situation requires. I've always backed my gut and instinct," he awith 25 scalps in 15 matches at an average of 19.52, best figures of 4/41. Listen to the latest songs, only on
India.com
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- India.com
Krunal Pandya Creates History Becomes First Player In IPL History To…
Krunal Pandya has etched his name in IPL folklore by becoming the first player in the tournament's history to win the Player of the Match (POTM) award in two separate IPL finals. The all-rounder, known for his composure and ability to deliver under pressure, achieved this rare feat in the IPL 2025 final, playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). In the IPL 2025 final against Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Krunal delivered a match-defining performance. With RCB defending a moderate total, Krunal spun a web around the Punjab batting line-up, returning with figures of 2 wickets for 17 runs in 4 economical overs. His control, variations, and clever bowling on a high-pressure night played a key role in RCB lifting their maiden IPL title. What makes the achievement even more remarkable is that Krunal had earlier won the Player of the Match award in the IPL 2017 final while playing for the Mumbai Indians. In that game, he played a crucial knock of 47 off 38 balls to guide MI to a narrow 1-run victory over Rising Pune Supergiant, a classic final etched in IPL memory. With this, Krunal Pandya becomes the only cricketer to receive POTM in two IPL finals, highlighting not just his longevity but his ability to rise to the occasion in the biggest matches. His contributions have not only helped two different franchises to title victories but also showcased his value as a true big-match player. __ @RCBTweets — Krunal Pandya (@krunalpandya24) June 4, 2025 As Krunal celebrated this feat, he called his brother Hardik Pandy, the two now boasting nine IPL trophies between them. With this iconic moment, Krunal has firmly cemented his place among IPL legends.
News18
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News18
Krunal Pandya Celebrates RCB's First IPL Title With A Hint Of Hardik
Last Updated: Krunal Pandya was named player of the match as he helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru win their first IPL title against Punjab Kings Krunal Pandya was named the player of the match as he helped Royal Challengers Bangalore win their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title in the final against Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Tuesday. His impressive bowling figures of 2/17 in four overs were instrumental in RCB's six-run victory. On Wednesday, the all-rounder posted images with the IPL trophy, accompanied by his brother Hardik's signature pose. Krunal had revealed a post-match call to his brother, Hardik, highlighting their family's impressive collection of nine IPL trophies in 11 years. During the post-match presentation, Krunal shared his conversation with Hardik, emphasising their family's remarkable achievement in the IPL. 'When I joined RCB, I said I loved winning trophies. After three and a half months, I'm glad I could deliver on that promise. It's been a great 10 years with four IPL trophies. I also reminded Hardik that there will now be nine IPL trophies in the Pandya household in 11 years," Krunal stated. Krunal's contribution to the IPL 2025 final was underscored by his crucial dismissals of Prabhsimran Singh (26) and Josh Inglis (39), significantly hindering Punjab's chase. His tactical approach involved variations in pace and unwavering self-belief. 'I trusted myself and believed that by varying my pace and keeping it slower, I would create opportunities rather than just bowling fast. My greatest strength has been understanding what the situation requires. I've always trusted my intuition and instincts," said Krunal, whose tournament statistics included 25 wickets in 15 matches at an average of 19.52, with best figures of 4/41. Krunal Pandya also became the first player to win the Player of the Match award in two IPL finals, having also shone in the 2017 edition, in the summit clash between Mumbai Indians and Rising Pune Supergiants. First Published: June 04, 2025, 15:01 IST
