Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya may be teammates and brothers, but their latest public moments have sparked fresh talk about a possible rift. A recent exchange on an RCB podcast—delivered with jokes on the surface—gave fans plenty to read between the lines, especially after signs earlier this month during Mumbai Indians’ match at the Wankhede Stadium.
Key takeaways
- A conversation on an RCB podcast featured a question that could be understood in more than one way, leading to speculation about how often Krunal speaks with Hardik.
- Krunal’s reply suggested he misses someone, while avoiding a direct answer, prompting laughter from both the interviewer and Krunal.
- The exchange quickly took on a “brother” angle after the interviewer hinted at Hardik, with both men laughing again.
- Rumours gained momentum after Mumbai Indians played RCB at the Wankhede Stadium earlier this month, where the brothers appeared more distant than before.
- During that game, Krunal delivered a bouncer and later celebrated strongly after Hardik’s dismissal, fuelling online “rift” chatter.
- With no clarification from either brother, the media discussion is expected to continue.
Podcast banter fuels brother-distance rumours
The discussion began with the interviewer setting up a scenario from the previous year, when he had invited Krunal to a show. According to the conversation, Krunal did not take up the invite.
To respond, Krunal joked that he was “with” his RCB family. The interviewer then played along with the light-hearted wordplay, saying something along the lines of: if Krunal was busy with his RCB group, then he might not have been able to meet the interviewer, who is also linked to RCB in some capacity.
At that point, Krunal’s language shifted slightly. He said that when you’re surrounded by your RCB family, there are plenty of people around—but you also end up missing some. He clearly paused the thought in a way that left it open to interpretation.
The interviewer then quickly pressed the meaning, replying with emphasis: “Like your brother.” Both Krunal and the interviewer laughed loudly after that, and Krunal did not offer any further clarification.
That lack of a direct follow-up, combined with the playful tone of the exchange, has led many to believe there is some truth behind the rumour that the brothers have been less close in recent times—at least publicly.
Wankhede moment adds fuel to the debate
The buzz about Hardik and Krunal’s relationship is not limited to the podcast clip. It also traces back to earlier this month, when Mumbai Indians faced RCB at the Wankhede Stadium.
In that match, both players were seen keeping a bit more distance than fans had become accustomed to when the brothers appeared together in the IPL. Their past on-field and off-field camaraderie had often been noticeable, but this time the body language and interactions looked different.
One moment stood out during Krunal’s bowling. He bowled a bouncer, and while this season he has used such deliveries as a surprise option, many felt it was not the most “brother-friendly” choice given the personal connection. Hardik, in response, ducked under the ball, but he looked visibly caught off guard, as if reacting with disbelief—almost like, “What is this, brother?”
Later, when Hardik got out, Krunal—who had no involvement in the dismissal itself—was especially fired up in celebration. The sequence looked intense enough that when Hardik returned, he appeared momentarily confused by the kind of celebration that followed.
After that match, social media quickly filled with speculation and “rift” rumours, with fans linking the Wankhede incident to what they later interpreted from the podcast exchange.
For now, there is no clear end to the story. Until one of them addresses it directly, the topic is set to remain prime media fodder, with every new clip and caption likely being read for hidden meaning.
