Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) all-rounder Krunal Pandya has been turning heads with a bowling approach that doesn’t look like it belongs to any “textbook” template. The left-hander’s side-arm delivery, combined with the use of bouncers as a deliberate weapon, has made him a particularly awkward matchup—especially for batters who are used to seeing more conventional angles.
Kavya Maran’s sidelines moment goes viral
During RCB’s Indian Premier League (IPL) clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday, Krunal’s unorthodox style left SRH’s camp visibly unsettled. As Krunal tested the SRH batting unit with bouncers and side-arm action, SRH owner Kavya Maran appeared animated from the stands, with her reaction sparking questions about whether such an approach is even permitted.
Her gesture was so noticeable that it also drew curiosity from fans watching along—some wondered if Maran was questioning Krunal’s bowling method. One expression captured in the moment summed up the disbelief, with the on-screen reaction reading: “yeh kya daal raha hai bhai?”
For SRH, the twist was that despite the drama around his action, Krunal’s impact wasn’t enough to swing the contest.
Krunal’s numbers, and SRH’s statement batting
Even with the attention on his side-arm variations and bouncer strategy, Krunal ultimately failed to make a major difference in the result. In his spell, he conceded 24 runs in just two overs and managed to take a single wicket.
With the bat later in the innings, Krunal added some resistance, scoring 41 off 31 balls. However, RCB still ended up losing the match by 55 runs.
How SRH turned the match into a launchpad
For RCB, the defeat did not derail their bigger goals. They still finished in the top two and wrapped up the league stage at the summit of the points table. SRH, though, seized the opportunity to make a strong impression in the same fixture—delivering a performance that felt emphatic from the first overs.
Abhishek Sharma set the tone almost immediately. There was no waiting, no cautious “feel-out” phase—just relentless intent. His 56 off 22 balls, featuring towering sixes and fearless hitting, effectively kick-started the batting onslaught.
Travis Head then added another burst of momentum with a quick cameo, while the innings found its deeper rhythm through Ishan Kishan.
- Abhishek Sharma: 56 off 22 balls, with big sixes and audacious strokeplay
- Travis Head: a rapid cameo that kept the pressure mounting
- Ishan Kishan: 79 off 46 deliveries, playing a controlled but destructive innings
- Heinrich Klaasen: 51 off 24 balls, continuing the demolition
- Nitish Kumar Reddy: unbeaten 29 off 12 balls to close the innings strongly
RCB’s bowlers struggled to find answers throughout. Every frontline option leaked runs at a rate above 12 an over, length deliveries were repeatedly punished, yorkers didn’t land when needed, and even “good” balls were converted into scoring chances. Amid the wreckage, Rasikh Salam was the only one to show a measure of control, taking two wickets.
With SRH pushing the pace of the innings and keeping the scoring machine running, the stadium felt like a launchpad as Hyderabad built the advantage that ultimately produced the 55-run win.
