Spinner Krunal Pandya proves his worth for Mumbai yet again
Krunal Pandya is turning out to be Mumbai Indians’ MVP (most valuable player). After delivering the goods in the last IPL with 237 runs and six wickets, the all-rounder was again at the forefront with his 3/24 on Sunday at the Wankhede Stadium. The left-arm spinner claimed three crucial Kolkata Knight Riders wickets to break the momentum the visitors had gained after the early carnage to restrict the former IPL champions to 178 for seven in their 20 overs.
While most of the Indian domestic players slugged it out in the domestic season, Krunal was nursing a shoulder injury at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore. He only got into action in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he finished with 366 runs and 11 wickets for Baroda.
In his first IPL match against Rising Pune Supergiant this season, Krunal looked a bit off-colour with three runs and 0/21 figures, the 26-year-old was the pick of the bowlers for Mumbai on Sunday.
The Knight Riders began their innings on a brisk note, reaching 44 in the first four overs, with openers Gautam Gambhir and Chris Lynn taking the pacers Lasith Malinga, Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell McClenaghan to the cleaners.
Anything short was pulled while the yorkers, if off target, were quickly put away to the boundary.
After Malinga’s first two overs went for 20, and Bumrah, McClenaghan went for 15 and nine in their first overs respectively, skipper Rohit Sharma introduced Krunal.
CRUCIAL STRIKES
He immediately provided muchneeded breakthroughs to put the brakes on KKR. Krunal first removed skipper Gautam Gambhir (19) after McClenaghan timed his jump perfectly at square-leg.
Krunal claimed his third wicket in his final over and it was his younger brother, Hardik, completing the formality. Making use of his feet, Yusuf Pathan sliced it over but it didn’t get enough power to clear the long-on fence.