Krunal Pandya has moved to quell the noise that followed a viral clip from an IPL 2026 encounter between Lucknow Super Giants and Royal Challengers Bengaluru, where Nicholas Pooran became the centre of rumours about a possible serious rift. The controversy began when footage from the Ekana Stadium match circulated online, prompting speculation that the former Lucknow teammates were involved in something more than routine on-field intensity.
The flashpoint occurred during the game in Lucknow. Krunal bowled two sharply paced bouncers at Pooran. After that, when Pooran took a single, he exchanged a few words with Krunal at the non-striker’s end, and for a moment it seemed like typical fiery IPL banter.
However, attention returned when another video emerged after the match. In the new clip, Pooran is seen speaking animatedly to Krunal and, at one point, holding him by the collar before pushing him away with a light, non-violent gesture. The scene spread quickly across social media, with many viewers convinced the exchange reflected genuine tension between the two players who previously shared the same dressing room.
Not long after the second video went viral, Krunal addressed the rumours with a relaxed Instagram post. He shared a picture with Pooran and made his stance clear with a friendly message that suggested there was no dispute between them.
“No lafda (no trouble), only love. Congrats to my bro @nicholaspooran on completing 100 IPL games. Proud of you, brother, many more to come. Btw, how was the bouncer?” Krunal wrote.
Pooran also weighed in through the comments to further underline that there was no bad blood. He replied in a similarly upbeat tone, reinforcing that their interaction was nothing more than normal team-mate energy.
“Only love here, guys. One of my best Mates,” Pooran responded.
Former teammates and friendly banter
The context behind the exchange is likely simple: Krunal and Pooran have known each other well from their time together at Lucknow Super Giants during IPL 2023 and IPL 2024. That shared history helps explain why the moment looked intense in clips, even though it ultimately appears to have been playful rather than personal.
What happened in the match
On the field, Lucknow Super Giants beat Royal Challengers Bengaluru by nine runs using the DLS method. The contest swung heavily after Mitchell Marsh produced a brilliant century, setting up a total that proved difficult for RCB to chase under the revised target.
Another key storyline from the match was Prince Yadav’s early success, as he dismissed Virat Kohli for a duck during the chase, adding pressure to RCB at a crucial stage.
