From the Baroda statutes, to making the state’s top cricket team, to the Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) to playing together for the Indian national team, Krunal Pandya and Hardik Pandya have been through thick and thin. Although they now play for different franchises, their bond has remained the same – supporting each other on and off the field.
However, recent stories paint a different story. It all started when Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) took on Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026. After RCB’s win, the brothers decided to have a customary hug at the end of the match as they used to. The two didn’t even catch up after the match, unlike previous seasons. Social media lit up with “Pandya brothers fighting? ‘Family feud in IPL?'” and much more.
Not only that, fans have also noticed a loud silence between the two brothers in recent months. There were no social media posts from Hardik’s elder brother Krunal or his wife Pankhuri during the T20 World Cup final. After divorcing ex-wife Natasa Stankovic, Hardik is now seen with his new girlfriend Mahieka Sharma more often.
In a recent RCB podcast with Denmark’s Sait, Krunal did break his silence about his rift with Hardik, but not as much as fans would have liked. The interviewer began, “You didn’t give an interview last year. Is it because you were with your family?” Krunal replied, “You didn’t call me.”
The interviewer countered, “No, we called. You said you were with your family and didn’t come. I want to know, isn’t RCB your family?” I was with my RCB family. You didn’t make RCB,” replied Krunal. The RCB all-rounder added, “Sometimes when you are with your RCB family, you have a lot of family members but then you also miss some (referring to the interviewer).”
Hearing this, the interviewer said, “Like your brother,” he laughed. Krunal couldn’t stop either. The interviewer said, “All right or any struggles?” As Krunal continued to laugh, the interviewer added, “Kane and Undertaker also fight sometimes.” Krunal replied, “All right.”
Krunal Pandya clears the air on the Mukul Choudhary incident
Apart from this, Krunal also cleared the air on allegations of sledging Lucknow Super Giants youngster Mukul Choudhary. The RCB star explained that he was talking to Mukul normally but his actions were misinterpreted. “People used to say ‘cub sledding.’
“I charmed him and he hit the paddle on the first ball. I didn’t snub him, I just said, ‘Mukul, you’re a young lad, you can hit sixes over long-on or long-off, hit me there.’ He laughed; it was just a joke. With my hairstyle, people think I’m very serious and angry, but I’m not,” said Krunal.
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