NEW DELHI: Krunal Pandya put his bruising evening into words after Royal Challengers Bengaluru edged Mumbai Indians in a nail-biting last-ball finish in IPL 2026, sharing an emotional update on Instagram as the emotion of the win still lingered. In the post, he wrote, “Some scars are proof that it was worth fighting for,” alongside an image highlighting a significant scar he picked up during his match-winning knock in Raipur on Sunday night.
The knock itself came with a heavy physical cost. Krunal battled severe cramps and intense discomfort while producing a sensational 73 off 46 balls, an innings that pulled RCB back from a precarious situation during their chase of 167. At one stage, the defending champions were struggling at 39/3, but Krunal steadied the innings and built crucial momentum with Jacob Bethell and Jitesh Sharma, partnerships that shifted the pressure back onto the opposition.
Even as his ability to move freely became a problem toward the end, Krunal kept taking on the bowlers. He still managed five sixes and four fours on a surface that offered its own challenges, turning the chase into a tense contest that ultimately went down to the final delivery.
“I love tough situations”
After the match, Krunal made it clear he enjoys pressure rather than shies away from it. Speaking at the post-match presentation, he said, “I obviously love tough situations and I always prepare and look forward to those.” He added that although he wanted to finish the game himself, it was another moment that defined the finish. “I obviously wanted to finish the game but I was not able to do it. The shot that Bhuvi played was the shot of the match,” he said, referring to the decisive contribution that swung the result at the death.
Krunal also described the extent of the cramping that threatened to derail him mid-innings. “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,” he said, underlining how unusual the physical strain was for him even as he kept finding runs.
Emotional reunion with Mumbai Indians
Facing Mumbai after six seasons with the franchise brought its own emotions for Krunal, especially with his brother Hardik Pandya also part of the MI set-up. He spoke warmly about the familiarity of the environment and praised MI batting coach Kieron Pollard. “Polly is my big brother. I had my best six years at MI. Kieron Pollard and Pandya brothers were the engine room,” Krunal said.
That respect was echoed later as former South Africa wicketkeeper Mark Boucher described Krunal as a “street fighter”, highlighting how the all-rounder refused to back down even when he could barely stand as the chase neared its climax.
Bengaluru finally clinched a dramatic two-wicket victory, sealing the win with late fireworks from Bhuvneshwar Kumar, whose six in the closing stages proved decisive. The result lifted RCB to the top of the IPL standings while simultaneously knocking Mumbai Indians out of the playoff race.
