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Sports | IPL

Ashish Kapoor

23 MAR 2025 | 03:01:23

When the IPL 2025 opener kicked off, the excitement was all about the usual stars—Kohli, Russell, Narine, and Salt. However, Krunal Pandya was hardly the name on anyone’s lips. Coming off a lackluster season with only 6 wickets in 14 matches, Krunal wasn’t really the talk of the town. But he had a different plan in mind.

RCB’s Bold Gamble Pays Off

Many questioned RCB’s decision to invest ₹5.75 Crore in Krunal, but after his performance in this match, the critics were left with nothing to say. As KKR set off with a strong 107 runs in just 10 overs, things were looking bleak for RCB. Krunal's first over saw him give away 15 runs, but his comeback was something extraordinary.

The Game-Changing Spell

Krunal’s next 3 overs were a masterpiece. He gave away just 14 runs while taking 3 crucial wickets:

Ajinkya Rahane, cruising at 56, was dismissed right after Sunil Narine got out, effectively putting 2 new batters at both ends.
Venkatesh Iyer fell after he got unsettled by a wayward bouncer from the left-arm spinner on the previous delivery.
Finally, Rinku Singh, a key player for KKR, was taken out, effectively shutting down KKR's momentum.

With these wickets, Krunal had completely halted KKR’s progress, restricting them to a mere 174/8 by the end of their 20 overs. From a potential total of 220+, they could only manage 67 runs in the final 10 overs.

RCB’s Successful Chase

Yes, Salt, Kohli, and Patidar were crucial in the chase, but let’s be honest—Krunal Pandya was the true match-winner. Without his incredible performance, who knows where this match could have gone. KKR looked set for a high score, but Krunal's left-arm spin completely derailed their plans.IPL Magic: Unlikely Heroes
This is what makes the IPL so special. Heroes rise from unexpected places, and Krunal Pandya, once written off by many, proved he’s a force to be reckoned with. His spell in the IPL 2025 opener is a reminder that anything can happen in this unpredictable, exciting league. It also gave RCB their first win against KKR after 2 long seasons.