Krunal Pandya's Record For India Vs RCB Compared Amid T20I Return Talks

Krunal Pandya could make India comeback after 5 years [Source: X]

According to emerging reports, Krunal Pandya could be recalled for a second stint, with the BCCI actively considering including him in the India T20I squad vs Afghanistan. The BCCI selection committee, led by Ajit Agarkar, will announce the squad by September 3, and if reports are to be believed, Krunal Pandya is among the frontrunners to make it into the team as Axar Patel's replacement. 

Notably, Krunal Pandya hasn't played a single T20I for India since featuring in the Sri Lanka series back in 2021. However, the stint with RCB has helped Krunal re-establish himself as a potent spin-bowling all-rounder in Indian cricket. 

As the left-arm spin all-rounder braces for a T20I comeback for the Afghanistan series, here's a comparison of Krunal Pandya's record for India to that while playing for RCB in the IPL. 

Krunal Pandya's record for India in T20Is

Krunal Pandya's record for India in T20Is suggests he has played 19 matches for the Men in Blue. 

The 35-year-old cricketer made his T20I debut against West Indies at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on November 4, 2018. Krunal Pandya's record for India in T20Is reveals that the left-hander has blown hot and cold with the bat, managing only 124 runs at a modest average of 24.80 and a strike rate of 130.52. 

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He has not been exceptional with the ball either, scalping 15 wickets, registering an ordinary average and strike rate of 36.93 and 27.3, respectively. Krunal has gone for 8.1 runs per over, which means his economy rate has been decent in T20Is for the Indian team. 

Krunal Pandya's record for RCB in IPL

On the other hand, Krunal Pandya has been a significantly more prolific performer for RCB. The Baroda cricketer joined the Royal Challengers after the franchise signed him at a price of 5.75 Crore in the IPL 2025 mega auction.

Krunal Pandya's IPL record for RCB suggests that he has played 31 matches, amassing 335 runs at an average of 27.92 and a superb strike rate of 139. 

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Playing in the middle-order, Krunal has struck two half-centuries for RCB, proving his batting credentials in tricky situations. Krunal Pandya's IPL record for RCB shows that he has been a game-changer with the ball too, scalping 31 wickets at a healthy strike rate of 18.68. 

India can utilise Krunal Pandya 2.0 as RCB have done in the IPL

Taking the aforementioned stats into account, we can say that Krunal Pandya has clearly outperformed his Team India version at RCB in the IPL. Apart from being more useful with the bat, Krunal has scalped wickets frequently for the Royal Challengers, something he failed to do for the Indian team in T20Is. 

Krunal Pandya's record for India in T20Is reveals that he has batted at 6, 7 and 8 positions, facing more than 15 deliveries only once in his career. So, quite clearly, the Indian team hasn't given him the platform to flourish as a batter in the shortest format. 

On the contrary, Krunal's stellar success for RCB has a clear method to it. The RCB management has identified his strengths, utilising his all-round abilities in appropriate match situations. 

For example, RCB have used Krunal as a shield to arrest batting collapses by promoting him up the order over designated finishers like Tim David and Romario Shepherd. 

This move has not only helped RCB preserve the destructive duo of David and Shepherd for the slog overs but also allowed Krunal Pandya to take his time and convert his start into impactful knocks. 

Statistically, Krunal has batted at 5 on six of 16 occasions for RCB, scoring 232 runs, including two half-centuries, at an average of 58 and a strike rate of 145. While he rightly deserves the credit for his impressive returns, the RCB management should also be applauded for showing confidence in his abilities under critical circumstances. 

Added to that, Krunal has been excellent on the bowling front for RCB. While he was an orthodox spinner during his previous stint with the Indian team, the left-arm spinner has equipped himself with several variations, including the much-talked-about bouncer, to keep the batters under the pump. 

He has passed the IPL challenge on extremely batting-friendly decks, scalping 24 wickets in the middle overs at an economy of 7.99 for RCB in the last two IPL editions. 

So, the Indian team management can not only use Krunal Pandya as a floater with the bat but also trust his wicket-taking abilities, especially in the middle overs, to help him improve his numbers for the national team if the BCCI selectors recall him for the Afghanistan T20Is. 

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