IPL 2025: 'Has Fire in His Belly' - Head Coach Andy Flower Reveals Most Important Pick For RCB at The Auction

Add as a preferred source on Google

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) head coach Andy Flower has revealed spin bowling all-rounder Krunal Pandya was the most "important pick" for the franchise during last year's mega auction, as the seasoned ball-tweaker continues to play the role of an unsung hero in team's quest for a maiden title.

Krunal has been the go to guy for RCB in the middle overs throughout the season. The 34-year-old, who was bought at the auction for Rs 5.75 Crore, has very consistently provided Rajat Patidar's side a breakthrough when the game has drifted away.

In the season-opener against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Krunal took the player of the match award after a match-turning spell in the middle overs. He also did the same in RCB's trip to Mullanpur to face Punjab Kings, while he bowled a terrific final over against Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede.

On a tricky surface at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium that got a little better to bat in the second innings against the Rajasthan Royals, Krunal used his variations to instigate the visitors' downfall in their pursuit of a 206-run target.

Rajasthan were well on-course to complete the chase, but Krunal dented their hopes heavily by striking on his first ball to remove the stand-in captain, Riyan Parag. It wasn't his usual quicker delivery but a slowed-up variation that turned and induced a top edge from Parag's attempted slog sweep that flew in Jitesh Sharma's gloves.

Following his consistent run of performances for RCB, head coach Flower, who labelled him as a street smarts cricketer earlier, was once again full of praise for Krunal and explained why the elder Pandya was an important signing for the Bengaluru-based side.

"Krunal was a very important pick for us in the auction. We liked his all-around capabilities, but also his experience. He has experienced winning the IPL, he has experienced captaining in the IPL, and he has played international cricket. He also has got fire in his belly, and I really like that. Obviously, both brothers do. So he was an important pick for us in the auction," Flower told reporters in the post-match press conference.

When Rajasthan tried to close the gap and bring the equation down to 72 needed from 40 deliveries, Krunal outwitted Nitish Rana to sweep a back-of-length armer to Bhuvneshwar Kumar, stationed at short fine-leg to get his second scalp of the night.

The seasoned ball tweaker wreaked havoc in his four-over spell, bowled in tandem with Suyash Sharma, and returned with figures of 2/31 to play his part in the Royal Challengers' first home win of the season.

Flower credited the franchise's spin bowling coach, Malolan Rangarajan, who has worked closely with Krunal and devised different tactics that the 34-year-old has been able to deploy to achieve success.

"I think he has done some good work with our spin coach. I think he is an excellent all-round coach. I think they have some good conversations about the tactics that Krunal is employing. They have been working well together. It is great to watch him operate like that," he added.

Rajasthan Royals tried to orchestrate a late comeback through Dhruv Jurel, but Josh Hazlewood's blistering spell in the death overs took away any hopes for the visitors as RCB pulled off an 11-run triumph in Bengaluru.

RCB will next be looking for revenge and get closer to booking a playoff berth when they face Delhi Capitals in their own backyard - Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Sunday (April 27).