Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s dream run of successive IPL titles was powered by a side-wide aura of dominance, and Krunal Pandya once again stood out as one of the franchise’s most dependable match shapers. After the historic campaign, captain Rajat Patidar made sure Krunal’s role didn’t go unnoticed, posting a composed Instagram tribute that captured the all-rounder’s influence in a single line.
Bengaluru’s title-winning journey featured 11 wins in total, including nine victories in the league phase, followed by success in Qualifier 1 and then the final itself. The season felt built around steadiness and control rather than bursts of brilliance alone, and it closely mirrored Patidar’s pre-season messaging. The skipper had insisted they were not trying to defend a trophy—they were simply hunting for the next one, and the results reflected that mindset.
Krunal’s output during the tournament helped turn that team identity into tangible results. He finished with 226 runs and 14 wickets, earning a place in the franchise record books by becoming the first player in RCB’s history to complete the rare 200-run and 10-wicket double in a single IPL season. That “quiet hero” reputation wasn’t just reputation anymore—it was backed by numbers that swung key periods of matches.
The championship added yet another milestone to Krunal’s evolving IPL story. This 2026 triumph marked his fifth title overall and his second with RCB. He previously tasted glory three times with Mumbai Indians, winning in 2017, 2019, and 2020, before joining RCB and adding to his trophy haul with another defining chapter.
After the celebrations, Patidar’s Instagram post offered a neat snapshot of how the dressing room viewed Krunal’s impact. With a caption that read, “The aura was never in question! 🥶”, the RCB captain highlighted the aura and authority Krunal brought—particularly in the moments when a match could tilt either way.
For Krunal himself, the back-to-back title success in 2025 and 2026 became the ultimate stage to prove his “clutch” credentials. RCB had secured him for Rs 5.75 crore in the 2025 mega auction, and from there he grew into a player who delivered when the pressure was highest. In Qualifier 1 against Gujarat Titans, he produced a match-defining all-round show—scoring 43 off 28 balls and striking with the ball to return figures of 2/16. Then, in the final, he again stepped up with the kind of economical bowling that helps a chase or defend become manageable, taking 1/23 in four overs to play a direct role in RCB sealing the championship.
Across the season, Krunal operated as a stabiliser and enforcer in the middle overs, consistently squeezing scoring opportunities and keeping momentum under control. His economy rate of 8.41 throughout the campaign underlined why he was such a valuable presence from one end of the innings to the other.
Stay tuned for all the latest coverage from the IPL 2026 Final between RCB and GT, including live match updates, the newest IPL news, the complete tournament schedule, and the race for the Orange Cap and Purple Cap.
