RCB vs MI: Royal Challengers Bengaluru all-rounder Krunal Pandya revealed that his use of the bouncer is instinct-driven rather than pre-planned, as he looks
to stay a step ahead of batters in the evolving Indian Premier League.
Krunal returned figures of 4-0-26-1 in RCB's 18-run win over Mumbai Indians, where the visitors fell short at 222/5 while chasing 240.
Explaining his approach, Krunal said he relies on intuition when mixing up deliveries, including the occasional short ball. "I go by my gut. There's no fixed plan about when to bowl a bouncer. Some days it comes early, some days later, I just commit fully to the decision," he said.
He also pointed out how the Impact Player rule and the rise of aggressive young batters have made life tougher for bowlers, especially finger spinners. With deeper batting line-ups and players capable of attacking from the outset, Krunal stressed the need to constantly evolve both mentally and technically.
Despite the challenges, he remains optimistic about adapting his game, adding that he continues to focus on fundamentals like variations in flight and extracting bounce to stay effective.
On the injury front, Krunal downplayed concerns around Virat Kohli, who did not take the field in the second innings due to an ankle issue, saying it did not appear serious.
Meanwhile, MI batter Sherfane Rutherford admitted the team needs to regroup after a third straight loss. He emphasised that the side must reassess and improve on small margins, while remaining confident of turning things around in what remains a long tournament.
