Virat Kohli Lauds Krunal Pandya's Stellar Performance in IPL Thriller

In a thrilling IPL 2026 match, Virat Kohli praised Krunal Pandya for his remarkable 73-run innings that helped RCB secure a last-ball victory against MI. Kohli highlighted Krunal's resilience under pressure, especially as he battled cramps during his innings. Despite a shaky start for RCB, crucial partnerships and contributions from the middle order turned the game around. With this win, RCB leads the points table, while MI faces elimination from playoff contention. Discover more about this exciting match and Kohli's inspiring words for his teammate.

By Narendra Chaudhary May 12, 2026, 02:19 IST

Krunal Pandya Shines in RCB's Nail-Biting Victory

Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], May 11: Virat Kohli, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) batter, praised his teammate Krunal Pandya for his remarkable 73-run performance against the Mumbai Indians (MI) during their IPL 2026 match on Sunday. Kohli described this innings as Krunal's "best IPL knock" to date.

Krunal's impressive innings of 73 runs off 46 balls was pivotal in RCB's thrilling two-wicket victory over MI. After a shaky start at 39/3 in just over five overs while chasing a target of 167, Krunal formed a vital 55-run partnership with Jacob Bethell (27) and a 37-run partnership with Jitesh Sharma (18), bringing RCB closer to their goal before he was dismissed in the 18th over, having hit two sixes off Allah Ghazanfar.

Despite battling cramps, Krunal's performance was crucial, and after his dismissal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (7* off 2 balls) and Rasikh Salam Dar (3* off 2 balls) managed to secure the win on the last ball of the innings.

In a video shared by RCB on X, Kohli commended Krunal for his resilience under pressure, especially given the challenging pitch conditions and his physical discomfort. He emphasized the significance of the two sixes hit by Krunal at a critical moment in the match, highlighting his determination and commitment to the team.

“I believe this is your best IPL innings so far. You’ve faced many pressure situations, but tonight was exceptional. You dealt with difficult bounces and low balls without making excuses. You demonstrated how to persevere and find solutions. Even while cramping, those two sixes were game-changers, and you showed incredible strength for the team,” Kohli remarked in the video.

During the match, RCB faced early setbacks, losing Kohli (0) for the second consecutive golden duck, quickly falling to 39/3, largely due to MI's Deepak Chahar (2/33) controlling the game.

Kohli acknowledged the team's poor start but praised the middle-order players for their contributions that turned the game around. He noted the significant roles played by Rajat Patidar, Krunal, and Tim David in previous matches, as well as the crucial partnership between Jacob Bethell and Krunal against MI.

“We didn’t start well with the bat, but like in the last game, we’ve had two matches where we struggled initially. In the previous match, Rajat stepped up alongside KP, and Tim David made an impact. This time, Jacob partnered well with KP, which was vital for our chase,” he stated.

In the match, RCB won the toss and chose to bowl first, a decision that initially paid off as MI stumbled to 28/3 during the powerplay, thanks to Bhuvneshwar's exceptional bowling. However, Naman Dhir (47 off 32 balls) and Tilak Varma (57 off 42) stabilized the innings with an 82-run partnership, leading MI to a total of 166/7 in their 20 overs.

Bhuvneshwar was the standout bowler for RCB, finishing with figures of 4/23, while Josh Hazlewood (1/33) and Romario Shepherd (1/18 in three overs) also contributed effectively.

In their chase, despite early difficulties, Krunal formed a 55-run partnership with Bethell and another 38-run partnership with Jitesh, reaching a commendable fifty. However, Corbin Bosch (4/26) and Allah Ghazanfar (1/33) took crucial wickets, leaving RCB at 149/7 in the 18th over.

Romario Shepherd (4 runs in 11 balls) struggled against Jasprit Bumrah (0/20), leaving RCB needing 12 runs in the final over. A series of extras from Raj Angad Bawa and a six from Bhuvneshwar eased the pressure, allowing RCB to clinch victory on the last ball, with Rasikh Salam Dar (3*) scoring the winning runs.

With this win, RCB stands at the top of the points table with seven victories and four losses, accumulating 14 points, while MI is positioned ninth with three wins and eight losses, thus eliminated from playoff contention along with Lucknow Super Giants.