At Wankhede Stadium on Sunday night, Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s spin attack delivered a major impact as Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma combined to strike at regular intervals, finishing with figures of 8-0-73-3. Suyash was the more costly of the two, conceding 47 runs while Krunal maintained an economy of 6.50. Together, they removed Ryan Rickelton, Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav, with Suyash claiming two wickets and Krunal one. Krunal pointed to familiarity with the venue’s dimensions and the disciplined nature of their line and length, while Ambati Rayudu, a former Mumbai Indians batter, argued the bigger reason was the MI batting approach rather than the Krunal–Suyash combination alone.
Key takeaways
- Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma together returned 8-0-73-3 for RCB at Wankhede Stadium.
- Suyash conceded 47 runs and took two wickets, while Krunal’s economy was 6.50 with one wicket.
- Between them, the pair dismissed Ryan Rickelton, Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav.
- Rayudu suggested MI batters were not using their feet enough against the spinners’ length.
- MI’s spin duo Mitchell Santner and Mayank Markande combined for 6-0-83-1, with the game shaped by how often balls were bowled full.
- Krunal described his tactical thinking as staying “one step ahead” and highlighted bowler–bowler partnership overs as a key factor.
How the lengths shaped the contest
RCB’s spinners were not alone in leaning on length as the controlling factor. Mitchell Santner and Mayank Markande, the two MI spinners, produced a combined spell of 6-0-83-1. On ESPNcricinfo’s TimeOut show, Gaurav Sundararaman explained that the difference largely came down to where the deliveries were landing in the batting slot.
As per the analysis shared on the show, MI sent 27% of their balls full, with another 18.9% arriving as yorkers or full-tosses. For RCB, the matching ratios were 4.2% for full deliveries and 4.2% for yorkers, and they did not bowl any full-tosses. The numbers underline how MI tried to pin batters with a heavier length, while RCB’s approach differed in how frequently they went for the same areas.
Rayudu’s view: MI must use their feet
Rayudu argued that MI batters were not ready to deal with spinners by stepping into the ball. He said it reflected in how the batters handled those lengths, adding that to be truly effective against such bowling, batters need to get their feet moving—coming forward, taking away the bowler’s angles, and either attacking through the line or hitting with intent.
He also suggested that MI’s batting group preferred to stay square of the wicket and wait for either a shorter ball or a fuller delivery rather than commit to stepping out. Rayudu noted that this kind of plan can make life easier for spinners, warning that if batters do not come down the pitch, many spinners will become more effective against that particular batting shape.
Krunal’s “one step ahead” philosophy and the role of partnerships
For his part, Krunal Pandya—an IPL veteran who spent six seasons with Mumbai Indians before moving to RCB through Lucknow Super Giants—focused on staying ahead of the batter. He emphasised that his mindset was to keep the opponent reacting, forcing uncertainty through changes in thought, execution and timing. He also spoke positively about Suyash Sharma, who is in his fourth IPL season and has continued to deliver consistently.
Krunal said he wanted to be “one step ahead” and keep the batter guessing, and that the plan worked. He further pointed out that Suyash bowled extremely well, and highlighted that taking two wickets in the first over shifted momentum quickly. Krunal also stressed the importance of bowling in partnership, explaining that the tandem overs—numbers 7, 8, 9 and 10—went for 37 runs and helped the team in a meaningful way.
He then added that Suyash has been improving, while crediting Malolan Rangarajan, RCB’s spin-bowling coach and player identification manager, for continuous work with him both during the off-season and throughout the season. Krunal described how Rangarajan has regular discussions with Suyash, and he credited Suyash’s ability to adapt and remain consistent—an essential trait in a format where batters look to score on nearly every ball.
Consistency, deception and using bouncers at the right moments
Krunal’s own approach, as he described it, revolves around dependable line and length, variation in pace and subtle “tricks.” He specifically referenced the bouncer and even the way he delivers it—bending low in his action before releasing the ball. He also framed his willingness to attempt different ideas as a key part of his evolution as a bowler.
He explained that the game’s impact player rules have shifted the balance. Previously, without an impact player, teams often relied on an allrounder slot around No. 6 or No. 7, meaning batting roles looked different. Now, with eight specialist batters and their skill sets, young players such as Mukul Choudhary and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi are coming in and striking from the first ball. In that environment, Krunal said he wants to be one step ahead not only in skill execution but also in the mental contest.
He also expressed hope that fingerspinners can still thrive in this era, noting that with flat tracks and eight batters, it has become tougher for them to succeed. Still, he believes the right ideas can help them “survive” and extract something valuable from the format.
Staying reactive rather than over-planning
One of Krunal’s ways to escape difficulty is unpredictability. He said he does not pre-plan that he will bowl a fourth-, fifth- or sixth-ball bouncer. Instead, there are days when he might send down two bouncers back-to-back, and other days when he chooses to bowl one early and then again later in the over.
According to Krunal, there are no fixed scripts for the specific ball number, and it is more instinctive—based on timing and feel. He added that once he decides, he commits fully to that choice. He also said he has been able to dismiss batters with spin and by deceiving them through the flight. In terms of practice, Krunal noted he doesn’t spend much time specifically rehearsing for bouncers; rather, the bouncer is something he executes during match play.
Krunal’s recent IPL trajectory and what RCB will hope for
Looking back at last season, Krunal won the IPL with RCB and finished with 17 wickets at an economy rate of 8.24. While that number is not as frugal as his earlier reputation, his economy between 2016 and 2024 generally ranged from 7.98 to 6.82, and he even had two seasons where his economy was under seven. However, scoring rates have increased across the tournament, and he said his own bowling figures have not been affected dramatically.
Going into IPL 2026, RCB and Krunal will want those contributions to continue—both with the ball and, importantly, with the bat as well. The article notes that Krunal hasn’t done much with the bat so far this season, making any improvement in that area a further point of focus for the side.
