Gavaskar Backs Krunal Pandya for India Recall After Bhuvneshwar’s Return

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has backed all-rounder Krunal Pandya for a national recall, just days after Bhuvneshwar Kumar returned to India’s T20I squad following almost four years away. Bhuvneshwar was added for the fifth T20I against the West Indies in Bengaluru after Arshdeep Singh suffered a shoulder injury. He last played for India in November 2022. His return has raised a bigger question about whether age should count against players who are still performing.

Gavaskar Praises Krunal’s Cricketing Mind

Krunal, 35, last played for India in July 2021. Since then he has continued with Baroda in domestic cricket and stayed active in the IPL. Speaking to JioStar, Gavaskar called him one of the smartest cricketers in the game. He pointed out that Krunal is not a big turner of the ball but mixes his line and length cleverly, reads the batter’s mind and is always plotting to restrict or dismiss him. Gavaskar also described him as an outstanding batter and deep fielder.

IPL Numbers Strengthen the Case

Krunal’s recent form for Royal Challengers Bengaluru backs up that praise. He took 17 wickets in 15 matches in 2025, when RCB won their maiden IPL title, and added 14 wickets in 16 matches in 2026, a tally of 31 across two seasons. His batting has improved too. He scored 109 runs in seven innings in 2025 and 226 runs at a strike rate of 145.80 in 2026. A five-time IPL champion, with three titles at Mumbai Indians and two at RCB, he also brings plenty of big-match experience.

Gavaskar urged selectors to ignore age when picking squads for major tournaments. In his view, players who perform in the IPL and domestic cricket are fit and deserve selection. Whether Krunal gets another India opportunity remains to be seen, but his numbers give the selectors plenty to consider.