Sunil Gavaskar has expressed support for Krunal Pandya to make a return to the India team, drawing a parallel with Bhuvneshwar Kumar's recent international comeback. The remarks came after the India versus West Indies 5th T20I, which was washed out due to rain in Bengaluru on Saturday, October 17. Bhuvneshwar Kumar recently ended a 1,425-day absence from international cricket when he played in the T20I series against the West Indies.
Krunal last played for India in a T20I against Sri Lanka in Colombo on July 25, 2021, meaning he has been out of the national side for nearly five years.
"Outstanding cricketer, really one of the smart cricketers that we've. Somebody you see his bowling. He's not a big turner of the ball, but he mixes his line, mixes his lengths so smartly, he reads the batter's mind, bowls at the pads. You've seen him bowl the odd bouncer as well, so he's always thinking and plotting against the batter, if not to get him out, at least to restrict him," Gavaskar saidon JioStar.
Why Gavaskar believes Krunal deserves an India return?
The former India captain emphasised that Krunal's value extends beyond his bowling. As a batter and fielder in the deep, Gavaskar views him as a complete cricketer capable of making an impact across multiple facets of the game. His recent performances in the IPL have demonstrated his ability to perform under pressure in high-stakes cricket.
Gavaskar stressed that selection decisions should prioritise current fitness levels and recent match performances rather than focusing on a player's age. He argued that if a player is competing regularly in the IPL or domestic cricket, their fitness is evident and their performances should be the deciding factor for national team inclusion.
"And then as a batter, as a fielder in the deep, he's an outstanding cricketer and I do believe that if you want to win the World Cups, you just go with the guys who you think will win the World Cup. Don't look at their age. That's not the point. If they're playing in the IPL, they're fit. If they're playing, domestic cricket, they are fit and if they've performed in that, you pick them in the India team. That's how you should go about it," Gavaskar added.
Krunal's IPL performances and franchise success
Krunal played a key role in RCB's back-to-back IPL title wins in 2025 and 2026. During the 2026 IPL season, he scored 226 runs at a strike rate of 145.80 and took 14 wickets at an economy rate of 8.41 as the Bengaluru franchise successfully defended their maiden IPL trophy. His contributions across both seasons established him as one of the franchise's most valuable players during their championship runs.
Krunal has previously expressed his hope of returning to the India team despite his extended absence from international cricket. Gavaskar's backing added weight to the argument that the left-arm spinner's recent domestic and league performances merited serious consideration for national selection.
