When Krunal Pandya walked in on Tuesday in the first One-Day International against England in Pune at the fall of Hardik Pandya’s wicket, I...
When Krunal Pandya walked in on Tuesday in the first One-Day International against England in Pune at the fall of Hardik Pandya’s wicket, India were busy digging a hole for themselves. From 178/2 after 33 overs, they had only progressed to 206/5 after 41 overs. The engine was sputtering and about to die.
First ODI as it happened: Prasidh bags four-for on debut as hosts win by 66 runs
In the middle was KL Rahul, who seemed to be in a battle with himself, and he was joined by Krunal Pandya on his ODI debut. No one expected the score to reach anywhere near 300 from this point. But that partnership steered the game in a completely different direction.
Krunal, the older of the Pandya brothers, started off well. After scoring a single off the first three deliveries he faced, he launched into the big shots — hitting four fours off the next five balls he faced. He suddenly had 17 off 8 balls and the Indian innings found momentum again.
Crucial Krunal knock
Importantly, he wasn’t looking to play just a cameo. He went on and even pulled Rahul along. In the process, he got the fastest fifty in ODIs by a batsman on debut — off...
