Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s bowlers delivered a composed showing in the IPL 2026 final against Gujarat Titans, but the defining flashpoint came from Krunal Pandya. His dismissal of England opener Jos Buttler was so sharp it even drew admiration from batting icon Sachin Tendulkar.
Quick facts
- Match: IPL 2026 final — Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Gujarat Titans
- Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Gujarat Titans score: 155/8 after being put in to bat first
- Key wicket: Jos Buttler dismissed by Krunal Pandya in the 13th over
- Tendulkar’s praise: Krunal was lauded for watching Buttler’s feet and releasing the right ball
- Notable bowling returns: Rasikh Salam Dar 3/27; Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood 2 wickets each
- Gujarat contribution: Washington Sundar 50* off 37 balls
RCB won the toss and asked Gujarat Titans to bat first at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. The Titans never really found a steady rhythm, and their innings eventually ended on 155 for 8.
Buttler’s departure was among the most damaging turns. He was viewed as GT’s most reliable option to stabilize the chase after early setbacks had already trimmed their momentum.
Sachin singles out Krunal’s awareness
After the wicket, Tendulkar took to social media to highlight the thinking behind Krunal’s delivery. In his post, he praised the bowler for tracking the batter’s movement right up until the final moment, then striking with the “perfect” ball to send him back.
That public endorsement from one of the sport’s greatest batters underscored how precise the execution was. In a high-pressure final, Krunal’s ability to read Buttler’s intentions and act decisively stood out even more.
The turning point: 13th over
The moment arrived on the very first ball of the 13th over. Krunal had noticed Buttler repeatedly setting up to play with his feet, and he stayed locked on to those movements until the last instant.
Then he went wide of the off stump with pace and angle. Buttler moved forward to attack, but the ball beat him completely in both timing and trajectory.
Jitesh Sharma collected the chance cleanly behind the stumps and quickly dislodged the bails to complete the dismissal. Buttler made 19 runs off 23 deliveries, and Krunal celebrated with a trademark roar as RCB sensed the breakthrough’s importance.
With Buttler looking to settle, the expectation had been for him to accelerate later in the innings. Instead, the wicket changed the complexion of Gujarat’s chase-building, and they struggled to form meaningful partnerships after that.
While Rasikh Salam Dar provided the major damage with 3 for 27, and Bhuvneshwar Kumar along with Josh Hazlewood each took two wickets, Krunal’s single scalp was arguably the most consequential. It removed a key stabilizer at a critical stage, tightening the pressure on the Titans for the remainder of their innings.
Despite the collapse around him, Washington Sundar kept GT alive with an unbeaten 50 off 37 balls, but the total still fell short of what they would have hoped for as they finished on 155 for 8.
