Royal Challengers Bengaluru batter Krunal Pandya sounded genuinely thrilled after helping his franchise secure a remarkable Indian Premier League double—celebrating the side’s back-to-back title triumph and his own growing legacy in the tournament. RCB’s win marked yet another milestone for Krunal, who said that “every IPL trophy is special,” adding that it feels like trying to compare the importance of children—each moment carries its own weight because the effort behind it is so hard-earned.
Krunal on a unique double and his IPL journey
With his team’s successive championship, Krunal Pandya became part of a rare club, with RCB joining only the third franchise to win the IPL in consecutive seasons. The all-rounder also stretched his record as one of the league’s most decorated campaigners, claiming his fifth IPL trophy. This was his second straight title with RCB, and earlier in his career he had collected three IPL titles with Mumbai Indians.
During this season, Krunal featured in 16 matches, compiling 226 runs across nine appearances. He finished with a batting average of 37.66 and a strike rate of 145.80, including one fifty and a highest score of 73. With the ball, he took 14 wickets at an average of 30.55, his best bowling figures reading 2/16. In the final itself, he delivered an economical spell of 1/23 from four overs.
After the match, Krunal also credited the transformation at RCB over the last two years. He highlighted the franchise’s preparation around the auction window and the structure that followed, pointing to Dinesh Karthik’s coaching and mentorship role as batting coach and mentor, along with Director of Cricket Mo Bobat and head coach Andy Flower.
“The way they prepared before the auction last year and the way they put the team together—right? The balance of it,” Krunal said. “Sometimes, half of the battle is won in the auction. I think they did a pretty good job. Then it was on us to go out and deliver. I’m really glad we managed to hold on to the trophy back-to-back.”
He went on to speak about the emotional weight of the achievement for RCB supporters and the captain. “All these 18 years of waiting and then winning two back-to-back trophies—that’s for the RCB fans. Wherever we’ve gone, they’ve supported us. And obviously for Virat as well, it’s pretty special—having two back-to-back trophies. It’s amazing,” he added, closing his remarks with pride at the franchise’s success.
Final: RCB’s title-winning chase after GT set 155/8
- RCB won the toss and chose to bat first.
- Gujarat Titans posted 155/8 in their 20 overs.
- Washington Sundar top-scored for GT with 50* off 37 balls, striking five fours in his innings, while Nishant Sindhu made 20 off 18 balls with three boundaries.
- RCB struck regularly with the ball, with Rasikh Dar Salam producing 3/27, Bhuvneshwar Kumar taking 2/29, and Josh Hazlewood ending with 2/37.
- RCB’s reply began brightly, building a 62-run partnership between Venkatesh Iyer (32 off 16 balls, including four fours and two sixes) and Virat Kohli.
- GT managed a comeback in the middle overs, pulling RCB back to 132/5 at one stage.
- Kohli then took control of the chase, remaining unbeaten on 75* from 42 deliveries, with nine fours and three sixes.
- RCB finished the job with two overs to spare to claim the title.
The triumph was RCB’s second IPL championship and their fourth major franchise trophy overall, counting two Women’s Premier League titles as well.
