Krunal Pandya has revealed how former India coach and then Mumbai Indians (MI) coach John Wright spotted him and his younger brother Hardik in Mumbai while the duo was playing for Baroda.

Krunal had received a letter from a government speed post job where he could have earned around INR 15-20k per month according to his father. However, he had worked very hard to become a good cricketer and he believed in himself.

He told Cricbuzz, “Back in the day, there was a government recruitment speed post job and I received a letter for trials. My father told me that it’s a good opportunity, you may earn Rs 15-20k a month, so you should go and try it out. At the same time, I also had trial games coming up for the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy for the Baroda team. I thought that I have worked so hard for the past 2-3 years and I have become a new player.”

“So I thought I didn’t work for a speed post job. I did it to become a cricketer. So, I tore down the letter and threw it away, and decided to go for the trials. I went for the trials and I performed really well. I got selected for the Baroda team. Hardik was already in the team. Syed Mushtaq matches were in Mumbai,” he added.

READ ALSO: Hardik and I had one bat each even at the Ranji Trophy level: Krunal Pandya recalls early struggles

This is where Wright saw both the brothers play and he thought that the Pandyas will be a good addition to the Mumbai Indians side in the IPL.

“Coach John Wright spotted me and Hardik, and he saw that these two brothers are good talents – they can both bat and bowl. So from thereon, he followed us up, and our lives changed. I feel the letter that I threw away worked in my favour. If I hadn’t played in the trial matches, our lives would be quite different,” Krunal added.

Both the brothers have been instrumental in the success of the franchise and gone on to represent the country.

(With inputs from IANS)