Krunal Pandya, the captain of Baroda and Royal Challengers Bengaluru‘s latest recruit, has displayed a return to form, suggesting this could be the boost RCB needs in their quest for a maiden IPL title in 2025.
The all-rounder was acquired by Royal Challengers Bengaluru for ₹5.75 crore during the IPL 2025 auction held in Jeddah.
Pandya’s recent performances in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, where he led the Baroda team, have been impressive. He scored 80 runs at a strike rate exceeding 148, including three sixes and eight fours.
His bowling was equally commendable, delivering 30 dot balls and taking two wickets against Kerala in his ten overs.
Pandya’s all-round display helped Baroda set a formidable target of 404 runs and restrict Kerala to 341 runs.
The auction for Pandya began with a base price of ₹2 crore, with RCB initiating the bidding.
Rajasthan Royals quickly joined the fray, resulting in a spirited bidding war.
RCB eventually secured the seasoned all-rounder, outbidding the Royals.
Pandya was previously part of the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) squad, joining them in 2022 for ₹8.25 crore after a competitive bidding process with Gujarat Titans.
Before his stint with LSG, he was a key player for the Mumbai Indians from 2016 to 2021, contributing significantly to their successes.
Over his IPL career, spanning 127 matches, Pandya has accumulated 1,647 runs and claimed 76 wickets, underscoring his value as a consistent and dependable all-rounder.
