Legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar has strongly advocated for the return of all-rounder Krunal Pandya to the Indian national cricket team, drawing a parallel to the recent international comeback of experienced fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Sunil Gavaskar has expressed support for Krunal Pandya to make a return to the India team
Bhuvneshwar recently ended a 1,425-day hiatus from international cricket during India’s T20I series against the West Indies, demonstrating that consistent performances can reopen the doors to the national side.
Krunal Pandya, who last wore the Indian jersey against Sri Lanka in July 2021, has been away from international cricket for nearly five years. Gavaskar praised Krunal’s tactical sharpness and his deceptive left-arm bowling.
Gavaskar remarked, “A fantastic cricketer—truly one of the smartest cricketers we have. When you watch him bowl, you notice that while he doesn’t generate a great deal of turn, he varies his line and length with such intelligence that he effectively reads the batter’s mind and targets their pads. You might even see him bowl a bouncer occasionally; he is constantly thinking and devising strategies against the batter.”
The former Indian captain emphasized that selectors should prioritize a player’s fitness, impact on the match, and current form, rather than focusing on their age. Gavaskar described Krunal as a ‘complete package’—a useful batter, an excellent fielder on the boundary, and a reliable bowler during crucial moments.
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Gavaskar’s endorsement follows Krunal’s stellar contributions in the Indian Premier League (IPL). The all-rounder played a pivotal role in Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s back-to-back championship victories in 2025 and 2026. In the 2026 season alone, Krunal delivered an impressive performance, scoring 226 runs at a strike rate of 145.80 and taking 14 wickets at an economy rate of 8.41.
