Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Krunal Pandya believes the unique pressure of carrying the defending-champions tag in IPL 2026 is a key reason he’s able to bring out his best when matches get difficult. Pandya delivered a major impact for RCB in the title-winning campaign of IPL 2025, finishing with 109 runs and 17 wickets. In the final, he produced figures of 2 for 17 and was named Player of the Match as his side clinched their first-ever IPL crown.
There is also a rare mark to Pandya’s name in IPL history: he is the first player to win the Player of the Match award in two different finals, having done it in 2017 and then again in 2025. With RCB positioned third on the points table in IPL 2026, the franchise will look to strengthen its path to the playoffs when it faces Lucknow Super Giants at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday evening.
Speaking on JioStar’s ‘Superstars’ episode, Pandya said that playing with the knowledge that the title is on the line always brings an extra edge. He explained that pressure exists at the highest level whether a team is defending champions or not, and that he actively prepares himself for those moments. “Whenever there is extra pressure or a need to perform, that gets me going as an individual,” he said. “So yes, there is pressure, but at the end of the day, nothing really changes. It’s just a game. You must approach it the same way, whether you are defending champions or not.”
As a senior figure in the dressing room, Pandya also pointed to the value of sharing experience with teammates after spending nearly a decade in the competition. In his view, the most important skill in tough circumstances is keeping things simple. He added that his own preparation is shaped by lessons he has picked up through his life and career, noting that many players come from modest beginnings and that life often teaches more than anything else. “Over time, I have always prepared myself for the toughest situations,” he said.
For Pandya, the demand of high-stakes cricket is a direct motivator rather than a burden. He said every cricketer wants to shine and become the match-winner, but it’s the pressure moments—when things aren’t going to plan or when it becomes a do-or-die situation—that tend to bring out his best. “A lot of that comes from how I prepare,” he said, explaining that he sets his mindset for challenges where everything appears to be stacked against him, so he can still find ways to perform.
In IPL 2026 so far, Pandya has taken nine wickets in nine matches, maintaining an average of 26.55 and an economy rate of 8.85. With the bat, he has contributed 40 runs, underlining his all-round role as RCB continues its push toward the business end of the tournament.
