Krunal Pandya, an all-rounder for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), pondered his ultimate objective, saying he has always wanted to play for India, and there is no finer feeling than wearing the national jersey.

He also discussed dealing with pressure and the value of experience after making a crucial cameo in RCB's five-wicket triumph over the Gujarat Titans in their recent IPL 2026 battle at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.

Thanks to Sai Sudharsan’s 100, the  Gujarat Titans made 205/3 in 20 overs. However, Virat Kohli’s 81 and fifty by Devdutt Padikkal helped RCB chase down the target with 5 wickets to spare. Krunal Pandya played a crucial knock of 23* at the end after RCB suffered a mini collapse.

“There was pressure. Obviously, this was the 7th or 8th match, and before this game, I had played only two innings with the bat. Sometimes, when there’s no continuity, you can suddenly get into a pressure situation," Krunal was quoted as saying to JioHotstar.

He noted that his adaptability and experience at various hitting positions helped him maintain his composure.

“But I’ve been doing this role for a long time, from No. 3 to No. 8. So, whatever experience I have, I try to use it, and I try to be as calm and present as possible in that situation," he said.

Krunal Pandya further spoke about his aspirations to play for the Indian team again. Pandya has played 5 ODIs and 19 T20Is for India since its debut in 2018. He last played for India in a T20I in 2021 against Sri Lanka.

“There’s nothing bigger than playing in the blue jersey once again. My goal has always been to play for India. But again, what do I have in my control? Consistent performances and how I win games for my team—that's what I try to focus on," he said.

Krunal emphasized the role of handling pressure and personal growth in shaping his approach, saying, “I’ve always enjoyed pressure situations. I’ve learned a lot from my life in cricket, because you only have one brain, and you use the same brain in life and in sports. So, I’ve always focused on how I can get better as a person, and that is the reason I’m able to play cricket this way."

He also discussed his development as a bowler in the rapidly changing T20 game, where batsmen are continuously experimenting. He highlighted his efforts to keep ahead of the curve, adding variations to his bowling.

“Every year, batting is evolving at such a pace that you genuinely feel, while standing on your mark, ‘Where will you bowl?'" Because you feel like the batter can hit you anywhere. So that innovation came from a place of ‘How can I be one step ahead?’ It’s not that I didn’t do it before. Why should fast bowlers have all the fun, right? I think spinners should, too. Whatever is happening, it’s good, and people are trying to copy it. So, it’s good to set a trend,” Krunal stated.

Krunal also thanked RCB's spin-bowling coach, Malolan Rangarajan, for helping him hone his skills.

“I felt that last year was very good for me, so coming into this season, I was thinking about what else I can add to my bowling. A lot of credit goes to our spin-bowling coach, Malolan, who has left me free. He has backed me a lot and given me confidence. So, that also makes a difference," he said.

(ANI inputs)