Patidar praises Krunal's 'gutsy' final over after triple strike

Krunal Holds Nerve in Final Over to Break RCB's Wankhede Drought, Earns Patidar's Praise

The last time Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) beat Mumbai Indians (MI) at the Wankhede Stadium, Krunal Pandya was just beginning to make a name for himself in domestic cricket. A decade later, he's not only played a key role in three IPL title wins with Mumbai, but also made his India debut and led Lucknow Super Giants as captain.

On Monday, Krunal returned to the Wankhede as an RCB player, facing off against his younger brother Hardik — now MI captain — in a high-stakes encounter. With 19 runs to defend in the final over and MI within striking distance, Krunal delivered a clutch performance, taking three wickets in the 20th over while conceding just seven runs to help RCB secure a rare and emotional win at the venue — their first there in 10 years.

Reflecting on that dramatic final over, Krunal credited his years of experience and clarity of thought.

“When I came on to bowl, Santner was at the crease, the leg-side boundary was short. With all the games I’ve played over the last 10 years, I had to use that experience,” Krunal said. “My goal was to have complete clarity in my run-up, know exactly what ball I wanted to bowl, and fully commit to it. Thankfully, it worked.”

Patidar Applauds Krunal’s Courage

RCB captain Rajat Patidar hailed Krunal’s composure and bold execution under pressure.

“That final over from KP wasn’t easy, but the way he bowled was amazing,” Patidar said. “It took real courage, and he showed it. During the second timeout, we agreed to take the game deep and then use Krunal’s over at the death. He delivered brilliantly.”

Krunal was equally complimentary of his new captain, praising Patidar’s calm leadership and ability to instill confidence in his bowlers.

“Rajat’s been fantastic — he gives you that comfort when handing you the ball. He backs your plans and gives you the confidence to go out there and execute,” Krunal said. “He’s got a very calm presence, doesn’t overcomplicate things. You can see that in his captaincy and in the way he bats.”

A Pandya Duel at the Heart of the Drama

At one point, the Hardik vs Krunal subplot threatened to decide the game. In the 15th over, Hardik launched his brother for back-to-back sixes, sparking hopes of a late surge as MI needed just 65 off the last 30 balls with six wickets in hand.

But Hardik eventually fell in the penultimate over, and Krunal returned to shut the door on MI’s chase in the 20th with a triple-wicket over, sealing RCB’s third win in four games.

“The bond we share is very special,” Krunal said of playing against Hardik. “At the end of the day, we knew only one of us would walk away with the win. He batted really well, and I feel for him. But I also wanted to win. The love and affection between us remains unchanged.”

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