Can RCB's Krunal Pandya follow teammate Bhuvneshwar back into India selection?
On October 20, 2026, debate around Bhuvneshwar Kumar's return to the India team reignited discussion about whether Royal Challengers Bengaluru all-rounder Krunal Pandya could also force his way back into national contention.
The conversation has drawn in several names who have returned to form in domestic and IPL cricket, including Mohammed Shami, Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, with Shreyas described as leading a side being prepared to defend its T20 World Cup title in 2028. Bhuvneshwar's recall has been cited as evidence that selectors may value experience despite age, and former India captain Sunil Gavaskar urged selection on merit rather than age, saying: "He's an outstanding cricketer and I do believe that if you want to win the World Cups, you just go with the guys who you think will win the World Cup." "Don't look at their age. That's not the point. If they're playing in the IPL, they're fit. If they're playing, domestic cricket, they are fit and if they've performed in that, you pick them in the India team. That's how you should go about it," said Gavaskar.
Krunal's statistical case is laid out across his IPL career: in 158 matches he has taken 107 wickets at an economy rate of 7.57. After several seasons with Lucknow Super Giants, he assumed a larger role at RCB and returned 31 wickets in 31 matches across the last two seasons, adapting his bowling with a mix of quicker bouncers and slower, flatter deliveries. According to the figures cited for this story, his economy rate of 8.41 across those two seasons was better than the corresponding numbers for Varun Chakravarthy, Rashid Khan and Kuldeep Yadav.
Former India spinner Murali Kartik argued Krunal should not be discounted because of age, delivering a series of remarks during a virtual interaction arraenged by Sony Sports Network: "I'm pretty sure Krunal Pandhya, and for that matter, I have never been a believer of age at all. If someone's playing and someone's playing well, that's all that matters," said Karthik. "Sometimes we end up making the mistake of looking too far ahead, forgetting the present. Even our scriptures stay in the present, but some of us seem to go too far ahead."
Kartik also highlighted tactical value beyond wickets, citing pressure-building as central to T20 bowling and noting Krunal's role in that regard: "Our scriptures say stay in the present. So it is sometimes funny for me, but having said that, age is not a number. As and when, if Krunal Pandya is needed, he should be in the mix. Why not? He's been doing well. He was your player of the match last year when RCB won, and more importantly," said Kartik. He added: "I am always amazed when people say you're looking for wickets. How do you look for wickets in T20? There is no slip, there is no gully, there is no short leg, there is no silly point. "So, you are getting wickets by building pressure. You're getting wickets by outsmarting the batter, being slightly ahead of him, trying to do many things that are the need of the game," said Kartik.
Independent metrics and recent output were also cited: Krunal took 14 wickets in 16 matches last season and ranked 18th on ESPNcricinfo's bowling-impact metric, a measure used in the source to underline contributions that extend beyond raw wicket totals. With the bat, he scored 226 runs last season at a strike rate of 145.80, including 20 fours and 11 sixes, and RCB accounts in the article note his willingness to endure physical strain—battling cramps and taking blows to the body during a win in Raipur—to influence matches.
The immediate obstacle to Krunal's India return detailed in the piece is Axar Patel's established role: Axar has taken 31 wickets in 27 matches this year and is described as offering control in the powerplay plus useful runs lower down the order. India also have options in Washington Sundar and Naman Dhir, and Kartik framed the selection dilemma around Axar's specific contributions: "Axar is your left-arm spinning all-rounder. He's a man who bowls in the powerplay. He's got some of the best numbers in the powerplay going around in terms of economy, as well as picking wickets." "So how do you not, how do you discard him and bring someone else who's like-for-like? And also, they have been looking for somebody who can be an off-spinning all-rounder, and that's where Naman Dhir has fitted in," said Kartik.
Whether Krunal will re-enter India contention depends on selectors' priorities, and the article notes that if the selection committee places form over age, his recent performances could keep him in the mix. Watch India tour of New Zealand live and exclusive on Sony Sports Network, Sony LIV and Sony Vizha starting October 22, 2026.