Krunal Pandya etched his name into the record books by becoming just the sixth player to claim 100 or more wickets in the Indian Premier League, underlining his evolution into one of the competition's most dependable all-round performers.
Primarily known for his control and ability to bowl in pressure situations, Krunal has built his success on accuracy, clever variations, and an astute understanding of match scenarios rather than sheer pace or extravagant turn. Operating largely through the middle overs, he has consistently broken partnerships and stemmed the flow of runs, two qualities that make him invaluable in T20 cricket.
What makes this milestone even more significant is the elite company he joins, with only a handful of bowlers in IPL
history reaching the 100-wicket mark. Unlike many on that list who are frontline strike bowlers, Krunal has achieved the feat while balancing dual responsibilities as a batting all-rounder, often bowling tough overs against set batters.
Finger Spinners With 100+ IPL Wickets
- S Narine (195)
- R Ashwin (187)
- R Jadeja (173)
- Harbhajan (150)
- Axar Patel (131)
- K Pandya (100)
LSG End With A Modest 146 Runs On Board
Royal Challengers Bengaluru produced a disciplined bowling performance to restrict Lucknow Super Giants to a below-par total, leaving themselves with a manageable chase of 147 in their IPL 2026 encounter. After winning the toss, RCB skipper Rajat Patidar opted to bowl first-a decision that paid immediate dividends. LSG never quite found momentum in the Powerplay, crawling to 35/1, their slowest start of the season, as the RCB bowlers kept things tight with disciplined lines and lengths.
The early setback was compounded when captain Rishabh Pant was forced to retire hurt after being struck on the elbow by a sharp delivery from Josh Hazlewood in the fifth over. Although Pant later returned, he couldn't make an impact and was dismissed for just 1, further denting LSG's innings.
Despite the sluggish start, Mitchell Marsh tried to anchor the innings with a composed 40 off 32 balls. He found support from Mukul Choudhary (39 off 28) and Ayush Badoni (38 off 24), who stitched together a recovery phase after a middle-order wobble.
However, RCB's bowlers ensured LSG never broke free. The standout performer was Rasikh Salam Dar, who delivered a match-defining spell of 4/24, including a brilliant final over where he picked up two wickets to halt any late surge. Complementing him was Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who ripped through the lower order with 3/27, coming agonisingly close to a hat-trick in the 19th over.
Earlier, Krunal Pandya also played his part by removing the well-set Marsh at a crucial juncture, triggering another mini-collapse. In the end, LSG's innings never truly took off, as regular wickets and tight bowling kept them in check. With 147 runs required, RCB now find themselves firmly in the driver's seat heading into the chase.
