‘Bat No.6 or No.7 and then bowl’ - Krunal Pandya on his role for the Indian side

A prime contender for the all-rounder spot in India’s T20 World Cup squad set to be named later this week, Krunal Pandya revealed that his role has been well-defined: a player who can bat in the lower middle-order and also bowl a few handy overs. 

Pandya, when he broke into the international scene in 2018, was initially seen as a left-arm spinner who can strike a few lusty blows, but in his recent stints with the national team, the southpaw has been trusted with more responsibility with the bat. 

Averaging 66.50 with the bat in international cricket since making his ODI debut against England in March, Pandya revealed that, with the T20 World Cup nearing, his role is ‘clear’.

“My role has been clear: I have to bat at Nos. 6 or 7 and then I have to bowl as well. When you bat at Nos. 6 or 7, you have to understand that the situation will be different. You can't just play your natural game. You have to bat according to the situation,” Pandya told ESPNCricinfo. 

“For example, against England on my ODI debut, I went in in the 40th over, batted for a few balls and then I was just going and hitting based on the merit of the ball. That situation allowed me to express myself. When I batted against Sri Lanka, in the second ODI, I scored some 33 runs. The situation didn't allow me to play my natural game like I did against England. We had lost wickets and we had to grind it out.

“In bowling as well, over a period of time, I have always improved. I was really happy with the way I bowled in Sri Lanka. In the first game, I bowled ten overs for 26 runs. I think it was a record for the most economical bowler in the last ten years [the most economical ten-over spell by an Indian bowler vs Sri Lanka since 2008].

“I feel that I belong at this level and I can do it for a long period of time.”

Elaborating further on his batting capabilities, the elder Pandya said that he does not see himself just as a floater or a finisher, but as a ‘proper batsman’. The 30-year-old, who struck his maiden international fifty earlier this year, asserted that he sees himself as someone who can ‘perform any role for the team’. 

“One thing I know is that I'm a proper batsman who can bat at any number from three to seven. I can finish the game as well, which I have done in the past. And I have done the role where I go in at 20 for 2 or 20 for 3 and I have to build an innings. I wouldn't say I'm a floater or a finisher. I feel that I am a proper batsman who can do anything in any situation.

“I can perform any role the team requires of me. I don't want to be a one-dimensional player. I don't want to be a player who can only do some particular role. I want to be that player who is flexible and ready to do anything for the team, whichever team I play for.”

But while it’s true that Pandya has elevated himself as a batsman over the past few months, there are fears that, simultaneously, his level with the ball is dropping. The 30-year-old, both for Mumbai and team India, has had quite a few ‘bad days’ with the ball over the past 12 months, with the most notable one being his outing against England in the 2nd ODI in Pune, where he was taken apart for 72 runs in just 6 overs.

But the all-rounder insisted that he is someone who does not dwell on bad performances. Pandya revealed that he looks at bad days as an opportunity to analyze where he went wrong, and tries to rectify those mistakes the next time he sets foot onto the field.

“One thing I have realised is, no matter what the situation in life or cricket, you have to believe in yourself. Even if I have a bad day, I'll never doubt my ability. I will always focus on where I have gone wrong - let me rectify that and go into the same battle with more preparation next time.

“Whenever I've had bad days, I've not gone too much into my shell. I have analysed it to see, okay, where can I get better next time? If that same situation comes again, I'll do something else. It's just about getting better.”