Krunal Pandya's Heroics Lead RCB to Victory Over MI in IPL 2025

Krunal Pandya Shines in Thrilling IPL Encounter

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 8: Following a standout performance against the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL 2025, Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) all-rounder Krunal Pandya opened up about his mindset while bowling the final over, where MI required 19 runs to clinch the match.

Pandya emerged as the key player for RCB, claiming four wickets while conceding 45 runs. His remarkable display earned him the Player of the Match title in this gripping 20th match of the 18th IPL season, where he dismissed Will Jacks, Naman Dhir, Mitchell Santner, and Deepak Chahar.

The left-arm spinner's exceptional performance included three wickets in the nail-biting last over, keeping fans at the iconic Wankhede Stadium and viewers at home on the edge of their seats.

After the match, Pandya reflected on his experience: “The connection between Hardik and me is strong; we knew one Pandya had to emerge victorious. The bond we share is genuine. Hardik played exceptionally well, and while I feel for him, our team's win is what matters most. When I bowled, Santner was at the crease, and I relied on my past experiences here. As a bowler, committing fully is crucial for execution. My time with Andy (Flower) at LSG has been beneficial, and our team is in a great mental space. Rajat has been fantastic, instilling confidence and supporting our game plans. Jitesh has also shown remarkable improvement in his batting awareness and wicketkeeping. I aim to stay focused and continue winning,” the 34-year-old stated during the post-match presentation.

In the match, MI won the toss and chose to field first.

Despite an early exit for Phil Salt, Virat Kohli (67 off 42 balls, including eight fours and two sixes) and Devdutt Padikkal (37 off 22 balls, with two fours and three sixes) made MI regret their decision with a swift 91-run partnership. After their dismissals, captain Rajat Patidar (64 off 32 balls, with five fours and four sixes) and Jitesh Sharma (40* off 19 balls, with two fours and four sixes) ensured the run rate remained high, leading RCB to a total of 221/5.

MI's Hardik Pandya (2/45) and Trent Boult (2/57) took two wickets each but were expensive, while Vignesh Puthur also claimed a wicket. Jasprit Bumrah returned with figures of 0/29 in four overs.

During MI's chase, they found themselves at 99/4 after 12 overs. However, a powerful partnership of 89 runs between Tilak Varma (56 off 29 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes) and skipper Hardik Pandya (42 off 15 balls, with three fours and four sixes) posed a significant threat to RCB.

Nevertheless, Krunal (4/45), Josh Hazlewood (2/37), and Bhuvneshwar Kumar (1/48) took crucial wickets at pivotal moments, securing a 12-run victory for RCB.

Currently, RCB holds the third position with three wins and one loss in four matches, all three victories occurring away from home. In contrast, MI has managed only one win out of five games, placing them in eighth position.