Krunal Pandya raised eyebrows across the cricketing world with a cryptic social media message posted just hours after India announced their 15-man T20I squad for the series against Afghanistan. Having last represented the national side over five years ago in 2021, the 35-year-old all-rounder has been quietly plying his trade for Baroda in domestic cricket, holding out hope for a call-up from Ajit Agarkar’s selection committee.
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Hope Is Still Alive: Krunal after India's T20I snub
Speculation around Krunal’s international revival had grown louder following two standout IPL seasons with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. With Axar Patel under pressure due to a dip in form, reports suggested that selectors had discussed the elder Pandya brother as a viable like-for-like alternative for the left-arm spin-bowling all-rounder role.
Ultimately, the selection panel opted to stick with Axar, leaving Krunal out of the final 15. The veteran all-rounder swiftly reacted on Instagram, sharing a story displaying the Indian flag, crossed fingers, and a simple message: "Hope Is Still Alive."
Krunal's resurgence with RCB glory
Krunal’s career underwent a major revival when he joined Royal Challengers Bengaluru ahead of the 2025 IPL season. Serving as a crucial dual-threat option, he played a pivotal role in guiding RCB to back-to-back league titles. During their historic 2025 maiden championship run, the left-arm spinner collected 17 wickets while maintaining an economy rate of 8.23, while also chipping in down the order with 109 runs—highlighted by a crucial unbeaten 73. He followed it up during their title defense earlier this year, elevating his batting to score 226 runs at a blistering 145.80 strike rate alongside 14 wickets.