In a moment that blended personal triumph with team glory, Krunal Pandya flashed five fingers on stage during Royal Challengers Bengaluru's (RCB) raucous IPL 2026 victory celebrations.
RCB secured a stunning victory in the final over Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi stadium. Virat Kohli played a majestic knock of 75 runs and scored the winning hit with a six. After a wait of 17 years, RCB thus clinched second IPL title in a row, and after that, the players erupted in joy.
The viral clip captured Pandya proudly holding the glittering trophy amid falling red confetti, as Virat Kohli and captain Rajat Patidar tried, in vain, to pull him back into the huddle.
Why Krunal Pandya showed Five Fingers in IPL Celebration
What appeared to many as cheeky taunting aimed at former teams Mumbai Indians and Chennai
Super Kings was, in reality, a proud celebration of a personal milestone: five IPL titles.
Krunal Pandya, who won three titles with Mumbai Indians earlier in his career, has emerged as a key architect of RCB's back-to-back triumphs. The 35-year-old all-rounder delivered crucial performances throughout the season, including a gritty match-winning 73 against his former franchise MI despite battling cramps.
Krunal Pandya cooked 5 TROPHIES within 5 seconds 🤣🤣🔥
- Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar couldn't atop him from trolling 😭🔥 pic.twitter.com/QZOW0cQIZg— Jara (@JARA_Memer) May 31, 2026
His clever finger-spin variations earned high praise, with experts noting how he has evolved the art of finger-spin in T20 cricket. In the final, his all-round contributions further strengthened an already balanced RCB unit. Despite Patidar and Kohli's efforts, Krunal kept on showing his palm, exposing a five gesture as the celebration continued.
RCB Script History with Back-to-Back Titles
Electing to bowl first, RCB restricted Gujarat Titans to 155/8. The Bengaluru side then chased down the target comfortably in 18 overs, with Virat Kohli playing a match-defining, explosive fifty. Having topped the league table and cruised through the playoffs, RCB delivered a dominant campaign that silenced years of "no-title jibes.
