Krunal Pandya enjoyed a special outing at the Wankhede Stadium as Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Mumbai Indians, with the all-rounder outdoing his brother Hardik Pandya. Reflecting on that moment, Krunal said it will always be a case of “one Pandya had to win”.
RCB posted a massive total of 241 and sealed the victory in 18 laps, Krunal bowled a tight spell of 1 for 26 in four overs. On a high-scoring surface, his control through the middle overs proved crucial in slowing MI’s chase.
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“Wankhede has always been close to my heart. I played here for six years and was lucky enough to win three trophies during that time,” Krunal said at the post-match press conference.
“So it was always going to be special coming here and like I said last year, in the end the points just came home. One Pandya had to win and I think I got lucky,” he added.
In a match dominated by runs, Krunal’s performance stood out. He not only kept things tight but also picked up the crucial wicket of Suryakumar Yadav, breaking MI’s momentum during the crucial phase.
The competition also had a subplot, p Krunal faces Hardik in what has turned into a competitive family battle. While Hardik managed a fighting 40, it was Krunal who had the final say as RCB held on to defend their total. Krunal got a winning streak in the Wankhede and left Hardik in more trouble. (PTI photo)
RCB’s batting unit laid the foundation for the win with Virat Kohli and Phil Salt making a strong start before skipper Rajat Patidar stepped it up with a quickfire fifty.
HOW GOOD WAS KRUNAL FOR RCB?
Since moving to RCB from Lucknow Super Giants, Krunal has become a reliable figure in their setup.
He played an important role in their title-winning campaign last season, contributing with both bat and ball. In IPL 2025, he picked up 17 wickets in 15 matches and chipped in with useful runs lower down the order.
He continues in a similar role in the current season. With five wickets in four matches so far, he has provided balance to the side, especially in the middle overs where control is key.
More than the numbers, what stands out is his ability to step up in big moments. Against MI at the Wankhede, a ground he knows well, Krunal once again showed why he remains a valuable asset to RCB.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
13 Apr 2026 08:49 IST
