Krunal Pandya played a match-winning knock under pressure and that was arguably one of the best knocks he would have played in his career. An interview was taken of him after the match and on being asked about facing MI and Kieron Pollard, his voice was breaking due to the emotions getting the better of him. Krunal Pandya and Kieron Pollard have finished many matches together as they were one of the most feared middle-orders back in the day. He has achieved so much at the Mumbai Indians and it will undoubtedly be an emotional moment for him.
“Polly (Pollard) is my big brother. I had my best six years at MI. Pandya brothers and Pollard, we were in the engine room. He is a terrific human being. GOAT of this format. Won so many trophies and so many games.
As Polly says, you can't keep a good man down,” said Krunal Pandya on being asked about facing Mumbai Indians and the moment he shared with Kieron Pollard after the match.
𝐅𝐞𝐥𝐥. 𝐆𝐨𝐭 𝐮𝐩. 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐢𝐧. 🙌 Krunal Pandya gave absolutely everything tonight 👏#TATAIPL Revenge Week 2026 ➡️ #RCBvMI | LIVE NOW 👉https://t.co/y41wRLoDHD pic.twitter.com/vU0Z4asbqd
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) May 10, 2026
Krunal Pandya’s gritty innings inspire RCB to a thrilling final-ball victory against MI
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru got off to a very poor start in the first 10 overs as they lost 3 quick wickets in the game. The big names of Virat Kohli, Devdutt Padikkal and Rajat Patidar vanished into thin air as the Mumbai Indians were on top of their game. Jacob Bethell and Krunal Pandya took the role of an anchor as they were just rotating the strike in the middle phase of the game. With plenty of batting to come down the order for RCB, they were confident in just taking singles. While Bethell failed to flick the switch at the right time, Krunal Pandya didn’t put a foot wrong. He was scoring runs with ease and his technical abilities were on full display.
You simply cannot put into words the importance of the knock of Krunal Pandya as the fans were being given the vibes of Glenn Maxwell’s innings against Afghanistan in the 2023 ICC World Cup. Krunal Pandya hit a couple of sixes in the over of Allah Ghazanfar and the moment the ball left off his bat, he immediately fell to the ground struggling in pain. But the kind of character he showed to turn down the singles and to take on the bowler himself, was special. In the last over of the innings, Raj Bawa would have thought that he won the match with the wicket of Romario Shepherd but Bhuvneshwar Kumar had other plans. He scored a wonderful six on the off side and made the equation into just 3 runs required off 2 balls. With 2 runs required off the last ball, Rasikh Salam sprinted back to the striker’s end and the dive saved him and RCB from the jaws of defeat. RCB have won the game by just 2 wickets and this could be the victory that will bring a change in fortune as they move to the top of the table.
