Hardik is a ‘little kid’, says Krunal
The month of December saw the wedding of not just Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli, but also of cricketer Krunal Pandya. HT Café catches up with Krunal, 26, about his marriage with Pankhuri Sharma, and any wedding plans of his younger brother Hardik Pandya, 24, who plays for India as well as in the IPL.
How does it feel to be married?
It obviously feels good
(smiles). I got hitched to the kind of girl that I always wanted to marry. I’m excited about this new phase of life.
What’s the best thing about Pankhuri?
Pankhuri has always been very understanding and she’s very patient, unlike me. The best thing is that we’re like buddies — I can share everything with her. Just by looking at my expression, she knows what I want to say, what I’m feeling or what’s bothering me.
She also has a great bond with your family, doesn’t she?
Yes. She has gelled very well with my family for the past two-and-a-half years.
Do you wish that Hardik would also get hitched?
Woh abhi chhota bachcha hai (he is a little kid right now). As of now, there are no chances of Hardik getting married. His sole priority is cricket.
How involved were you in your wedding plans?
I wasn’t very involved, because I was busy and I was also injured in between. All the credit goes to Pankhuri and my family. Most importantly, we had to decide on a date when Hardik and I were free from our match schedules (India matches and domestic fixtures, respectively).
It’d be great to see both Pandya brothers play for Team India...
Definitely! Ever since we started playing cricket, our dream was to represent India, though we’ve both achieved our dreams in our own ways.
My next goal is to play for India as soon as possible. After IPL, I had toured South Africa (last year) and represented India A. But I got injured, and so, couldn’t continue.
Was that period very challenging?
It was tough. My IPL [season] in 2016 turned out to be superb. After that, a good performance in Ranji Trophy was important to break into the Indian team.
But the injury kept me out of cricket for four-five months. Even before IPL 2017, I had a shoulder surgery. But it’s part and parcel of a cricketer’s life. Now, I hope to get back on track soon and represent my country again.