Over the last few years, Krunal Pandya’s impact with the ball has been minimal, and a lot of that has to do with how he has bowled. The left-arm spinner has had a rigid approach, bowling it wide off the crease to the batters. But this season, he has made a conscious decision of bowling it a lot slower and allow the ball to turn away from the right-hander. 

On Friday (April 7), that was the biggest differentiator between the two teams. In that spell he bowled, the left-arm spinner picked up three big wickets, removing three of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s top-order. The ball that he bowled to Aiden Markram, a vicious turner was, according to Krunal, a response to critics who say he doesn’t turn the ball. 

“Very good day at the office I can say. Both (what he enjoyed more?). Runs, wickets - everything is hard-earned. Everything is special. More right-handers in their lineup - knew I would be bowling four overs. This year I'm in a good headspace,” Krunal said at the post-match presentation. 

In Krunal’s own words, he’s learned and unlearned a lot of things over the last few months, and that really changed his bowling. 

“Once you have clarity up there, things fall in places. I'm very process-driven, don't think about results. Was just playing white-ball formats. What happened last two-three years was I kept getting wider and wider. Whatever I did in the last 3-4 months is coming out really well. People say I don't turn the ball, so that answers it I guess (Markram wicket),” he added.

While stating all of that, the left-arm spinner reckoned that he was ‘trying’ to recollect how he batted at No.4 for MI in his first 4-5 years of the IPL, and aimed to find that rhythm and consistency. 

“I'm trying to recollect how I played in the first 4-5 years in IPL where I was batting at four for MI. Trying to find that rhythm and consistency. Having the clarity helps. I'm okay with any track. Don't mind if I get a MoM. Want to dedicate this to my wife. She has been a constant support.”