India all-rounder Krunal Pandya has joined the Warwickshire County Cricket Club for the Royal London Cup 2022, which starts on August 2. The 31-year-old, who represented the Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2022, expressed his gratitude and said that he is excited to be a part of the club’s rich history. 

Warwickshire, based at Edgbaston, will kick off their campaign against Gloucestershire on August 2, and will participate in the eight group-stages matches. The final of the Royal London Cup on September 17. 

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Pandya was five-time IPL champions Mumbai Indians’ mainstay since 2016. He moved to the Lucknow Super Giants in 2022. The 31-year-old has represented India in 19 T20I and five ODIs, scoring 124 and 130 runs respectively. He has taken 15 and two wickets too. 

The elder brother of Hardik Pandya, Krunal has also played 76 List A matches, scoring 2,231 runs at an average of 37 alongside taking 89 wickets. The all-rounder made the fastest half-century (26 balls) by a debutant in ODIs against England in 2021. 

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Talking about his signing, Pandya said,”I’m extremely excited to get the opportunity to play county cricket and to join such a history Club as Warwickshire. Edgbaston is a special place to play cricket and I can’t wait to call it my home. I hope I can play my part in a successful 50-over campaign with the Club and I am looking forward to meeting my team mates.”

“I would like to extend my gratitude to both Warwickshire County cricket club and the BCCI for this opportunity.”

Warwickshire’s director of Cricket Paul Farbrace said that Krunal Pandya ‘will bring a wealth of international experience to a team that will be desperate to do well’. 

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“Krunal is an incredible signing for the Club, and I’m delighted to welcome him to Edgbaston. Due to our impressive T20 performances, we will lose players to The Hundred, but that’s always going to happen to successful teams. The opportunity to add a world-renowned all-rounder to an exciting group is fantastic,” he said.