Krunal Pandya Battles Cramps to Lead Royal Challengers Bengaluru Past Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026 Thriller
Royal Challengers Bengaluru secured a narrow two-wicket victory over the Mumbai Indians on the final ball of their IPL 2026 encounter in Raipur. Chasing a target of 167, RCB relied on a resilient 73-run innings from Krunal Pandya, who battled severe cramping to anchor the run chase after an early top-order collapse.
Match Summary: RCB vs MI
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Venue | Raipur |
| Target | 167 Runs |
| RCB Top Scorer | Krunal Pandya (73 off 46 balls) |
| Result | RCB won by 2 wickets |
Rebuilding the RCB Innings
The Royal Challengers Bengaluru run chase began poorly, with the team reduced to 39 for 3 inside the powerplay. Krunal Pandya stepped in to stabilize the innings, constructing methodical partnerships with Jacob Bethell and Jitesh Sharma. Rather than relying on boundary hitting on a difficult surface, the middle-order batters rotated the strike and minimized dot balls to keep the required run rate manageable.
The match came down to the final delivery, where veteran bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar executed a decisive six to complete the run chase and seal the two-wicket victory.
Battling Physical Exhaustion
Pandya’s 46-ball 73 was characterized by physical attrition. The all-rounder visibly struggled with cramping throughout the second half of his innings but refused to retire hurt to ensure his team stayed in the contest.
“I was cramping a lot. It started from the calf, went to the glutes, and went to my back. I don’t usually bat so long,” Pandya stated during the post-match presentation.
He noted that the Raipur pitch demanded technical application rather than power hitting. “It was a wicket where you have to play cricketing shots. Not the kind of wicket where you line up the bowlers. You have to apply and grind and play the knock. I obviously love tough situations and I always prepare and look forward to those. I wanted to finish the game, but I was not able to do it. The shot that Bhuvi played was the shot of the match.”
Tribute to Kieron Pollard
Following the victory against his former franchise, Pandya directed his post-match comments toward former Mumbai Indians teammate Kieron Pollard. Pandya spent six productive years with the Mumbai Indians, during which he formed a successful core group alongside the West Indian all-rounder.
- On Pollard’s influence: He referred to Pollard as his “big brother.”
- On his status in T20 cricket: Pandya labeled the West Indian the “GOAT of this format.”
- On resilience: He recalled Pollard’s career advice that “you can’t keep a good man down.”