Royal Challengers Bengaluru all-rounder Krunal Pandya said he genuinely enjoys batting when the match is hanging by a thread, after producing a match-winning knock to steer his side past Mumbai Indians in a dramatic last-ball finish in IPL 2026 on Sunday. RCB chased 167 in a tense encounter in Raipur, and Krunal’s 73 off 46 balls—despite cramps—proved decisive as the hosts won by two wickets.
Key takeaways
- Krunal Pandya struck 73 off 46 balls as RCB completed a two-wicket win over Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026.
- RCB were 39/3 in the chase of 167 before Krunal’s partnerships with Jacob Bethell and Jitesh Sharma steadied the innings.
- Krunal was later dismissed in the 18th over, but Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Rasikh Salam Dar saw RCB through in the final over.
- Krunal hit five sixes and four fours, while Bhuvneshwar’s late six was described as the decisive moment.
- RCB reached the top of the points table with seven wins from 11 matches; MI slipped to ninth with three victories.
Krunal Pandya on handling pressure and finishing moments
With RCB placed under heavy pressure at 39/3 after 5.1 overs while chasing 167, Krunal Pandya stitched a vital 55-run stand with Jacob Bethell, who contributed 27 runs. He then added a further 37 runs with Jitesh Sharma (18) to keep RCB within touching distance of the target. After Krunal’s dismissal in the 18th over, the chase was brought home by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who finished unbeaten on 7 off two balls, and Rasikh Salam Dar, who also remained not out on 3 off two deliveries—securing victory on the last ball of RCB’s innings.
Krunal, who had been dealing with cramps, struck five maximums and four boundaries during his 73. Speaking after the match, he said he likes high-pressure situations and always gears up for tough scenarios, though he acknowledged he couldn’t personally see the chase over the line.
He also singled out Bhuvneshwar’s late six as the moment that swung the contest, explaining that the Raipur surface demanded careful, cricketing shot selection rather than brute-force attacking. “I obviously love tough situations and I always prepare and look forward to those. Obviously wanted to finish the game but I was not able to do it but the shot that Bhuvi played was the shot of the match. It was a wicket where you have to play cricketing shots. Not the kind of wicket where you line up the bowlers. You have to apply and grind and play the knock,” Krunal said during the post-match presentation.
He further revealed that his innings was impacted by severe cramps. Krunal said the cramping began in his calf, moved into his glutes, and then into his back, adding that he isn’t accustomed to batting for such extended periods. “I was cramping a lot. It started from calf, went to glutes and went to my back. So I was cramping a lot. I don’t usually bat so long,” Pandya said.
Emotional reflections from Krunal’s Mumbai Indians years
Krunal also looked back on his early IPL journey, spending his first six seasons from 2016 to 2021 with Mumbai Indians. He spoke with emotion about the bond he shared with MI batting coach Kieron Pollard, calling him a “big brother” figure, praising him as a T20 great, and crediting him as an important part of the team’s success.
“Polly (Kieron Pollard) is my big brother. I had my best six years at MI. Kieron Pollard and Pandya brothers were the engine room. It was obviously emotional and I obviously love Kieron Pollard and a terrific human being. GOAT of this format and won so many trophies and games. And as he says, you can’t keep a good man down,” Krunal said at the post-match presentations.
What happened in the match in Raipur
RCB overcame MI by two wickets in a thrilling last-ball finish in Raipur, chasing down 167 in a tense IPL clash. Mumbai Indians had started the contest strongly with the ball, but their chase of a win fell short after RCB’s late resistance.
Earlier, MI were dismissed for 166, with Bhuvneshwar Kumar producing a four-wicket spell. Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir’s partnership helped Mumbai recover after an early collapse, but RCB ultimately kept them from crossing the 167 mark.
Despite a brilliant four-wicket haul from Corbin Bosch, MI could not complete the chase. RCB held their nerve in the final over as Krunal anchored the pursuit with his fifty-plus contribution, and Bhuvneshwar’s late six sealed the outcome.
With the win, RCB moved to the summit of the points table, registering seven victories from 11 matches. MI’s playoff chances were effectively over, as they remained ninth with only three wins.
