Krunal Pandya Shines in RCB's Nail-Biting Victory Over MI in IPL 2026
Thrilling Finish in Raipur
Raipur (Chhattisgarh) [India], May 11: Krunal Pandya, an all-rounder for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), expressed his enjoyment of high-pressure scenarios after his impressive 73 runs off 46 balls led RCB to a dramatic two-wicket victory against Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL 2026 match on Sunday.
RCB faced a challenging start, finding themselves at 39/3 within just 5.1 overs while chasing a target of 167. However, Pandya formed a vital partnership of 55 runs with Jacob Bethell (27) and another 37-run partnership with Jitesh Sharma (18), bringing RCB closer to their goal before his dismissal in the 18th over. Following Krunal's exit, Bhuvneshwar Kumar (7* off 2 balls) and Rasikh Salam Dar (3* off 2 balls) clinched the win on the final ball of the innings.
Despite battling cramps, Krunal showcased his skills with five sixes and four fours during his innings.
In the post-match interview, he shared his affinity for challenging situations and acknowledged his desire to finish the game himself, though he praised Bhuvneshwar's crucial six as the match-defining moment. He emphasized that the Raipur pitch demanded patience and strategic shot selection rather than aggressive play.
“I thrive in tough situations and always prepare for them. I wanted to finish the game but couldn’t. Bhuvi's shot was the highlight of the match. The pitch required proper cricketing shots rather than just attacking the bowlers. You need to apply yourself and play smart,” Krunal stated.
He also revealed that he experienced significant cramps during his innings, noting that he isn't accustomed to batting for extended periods.
“I was cramping quite a bit. It started in my calves, moved to my glutes, and then to my back. I’m not used to batting for so long,” he added.
Krunal, who spent his initial six IPL seasons with MI from 2016 to 2021, reflected fondly on his time with the franchise, referring to MI's batting coach Kieron Pollard as a 'big brother' and recognizing him as a pivotal figure in the team's success. He described his six years with MI as the pinnacle of his IPL journey, highlighting the strong camaraderie within the Pandya-Pollard trio, which includes his brother Hardik Pandya.
“Polly (Kieron Pollard) is like a big brother to me. My best six years were with MI. The bond between Kieron Pollard and the Pandya brothers was the driving force. It was emotional, and I have immense respect for Kieron Pollard, a remarkable person and a legend of this format,” Krunal remarked during the post-match presentation.
RCB triumphed over MI by two wickets in a thrilling last-ball finish, successfully chasing down 167 runs in a tense IPL encounter.
Despite Corbin Bosch's impressive four-wicket haul for MI, they fell short as RCB maintained their composure in the final over, with Krunal's half-century anchoring the chase and Bhuvneshwar's late six sealing the victory.
Earlier, RCB bowled out MI for 166, thanks to Bhuvneshwar's four-wicket performance, while Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir's partnership helped MI recover from an early collapse.
This victory propelled RCB to the top of the points table with seven wins in 11 matches, while MI's chances for the playoffs were severely diminished, leaving them in ninth place with only three wins.