"Had my best years in MI": Krunal Pandya opens after winning for RCB recalling bonds with Kieron Pollard

two wickets in Raipur, but Krunal Pandya’s post-match remarks on Kieron Pollard briefly competed with the result itself. After steering RCB through a collapsing chase with 73 runs under pressure, the all-rounder revisited his years at Mumbai Indians and described Pollard as the “GOAT of this format.” After the match, Krunal Pandya said,

“Polly is my big brother. I had my best six years at MI, the Pandya brothers and Pollard, we were the engine room. He is a terrific human being and GOAT of this format. Won so many trophies and so many games. As Polly says, you can’t keep a good man down."

The victory ended Mumbai Indians’ remaining playoff hopes while pushing RCB to the top of the table. Krunal’s innings came after Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s four-wicket spell restricted MI to 166.

Krunal anchors chase after top-order collapse

RCB’s pursuit started poorly as Deepak Chahar removed Virat Kohli for a duck before dismissing Devdutt Padikkal. Corbin Bosch then added pressure by sending back Rajat Patidar and Jacob Bethell, reducing RCB to an early crisis.

Krunal rebuilt the innings almost single-handedly while wickets kept falling at the other end. Bosch removed Jitesh Sharma and Tim David in quick succession, but Krunal continued to keep the chase alive despite visible physical discomfort during the latter stages of his innings. Pandya said,

“I love tough situations as I am always prepared. I look forward to doing it when things are tough. I was cramping a lot. It started from calf, went to glutes and went to my back. Now onwards I guess I will take of lot of fluids and food."

Krunal eventually fell for 73 after Allah Ghazanfar dismissed him, leaving RCB needing late contributions from the lower order.

Read also: Six or not? Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir engages in heat after dropping Krunal Pandya's catch in deep

Bhuvneshwar’s spell derails Mumbai innings

Earlier, Bhuvneshwar Kumar broke MI’s momentum during the powerplay itself. He dismissed Ryan Rickelton, Rohit Sharma and stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav to leave Mumbai struggling early.

Naman Dhir and Tilak Varma attempted a recovery through an 82-run stand before Rashik Salam dismissed Naman for 47. Tilak completed his half-century but later became Bhuvneshwar’s fourth wicket of the evening.

Mumbai eventually managed 166 with late runs from Raj Bawa, Corbin Bosch and Deepak Chahar. In reply, RCB crossed the line off the final delivery as Bhuvneshwar and Rashik Salam completed the chase. Pandya said,

“The shot Bhuvi played was the shot of the match. It was a wicket where you had to play cricketing shots. You had to get into good positions and you had to apply and grind."