Did Krunal Pandya Shine Brightly in IPL 2025 with RCB's Victory?

New Delhi, April 28 (NationPress) Reflecting on the recent showdown between the Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, it’s clear that the dynamics from their earlier encounter in Bengaluru have flipped. In that earlier match, RCB struggled, limited by spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Vipraj Nigam, managing only 163 runs at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.

During the previous face-off, despite losing three wickets early, KL Rahul delivered an impressive 93 not out off 53 balls, forming a pivotal 111-run partnership with Tristan Stubbs, who contributed 38 not out off 23 balls, leading DC to a remarkable victory. Rahul famously celebrated with an animated ‘this is my ground’ gesture, which resonated with the approximately 35,000 fans who attended the recent DC-RCB match in New Delhi.

As the match progressed, tight bowling from Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma, alongside steady contributions from the pace attack, restricted DC to 162/8. As RCB found themselves at 26/3 in their chase, hopes rose for a vintage performance from Virat Kohli, who could have mirrored Rahul’s earlier celebration.

However, it was Pandya, a three-time IPL champion, who rose to the occasion with a stellar 73 runs off 47 balls, exhibiting a blend of poise and calculated aggression. His pivotal 119-run partnership with Kohli, who scored 51 runs from 47 balls, enabled RCB to successfully chase down the target in the 19th over, placing them at the top of the points table and maintaining their unbeaten streak in away matches.

Fans departed the stadium elated, celebrating both RCB's victory and Kohli's fifty, while showering praise on Pandya for his outstanding all-round performance on a pitch reminiscent of the surfaces seen in IPL 2024.

Initially, Pandya appeared rusty, scoring just 17 off 21 balls, having dodged a bouncer from Mitchell Starc and being beaten on the outside edge. With 99 runs required from the last ten overs, RCB was under pressure at 64/3. Yet, Pandya, batting at number five, accelerated brilliantly, scoring 56 runs off his last 26 balls after initially struggling.

He capitalized on Mukesh’s off-day, hitting consecutive sixes, and soon dispatched Kuldeep Yadav for another six over cover, ultimately reaching his IPL fifty after 3269 days. The last time he achieved this feat was in 2016 against the then Delhi Daredevils. Pandya was fortunate when Abishek Porel dropped a straightforward catch right after his fifty.

Pandya then punished Mukesh with back-to-back boundaries, leading RCB to victory with nine balls to spare. RCB’s management expressed their delight over Pandya’s promotion in the batting order, which proved critical in maintaining momentum during the middle overs despite an unremarkable power-play.

“Krunal did an excellent job coming in to stabilize our innings and build a partnership with Virat, which he executed superbly. We had plenty of firepower left in the pavilion, and after reaching the halfway point, we felt confident in our chances,” said Mo Bobat, RCB's director of cricket, at the post-match press conference.

Prior to his batting heroics, Pandya had significantly contributed to RCB's spin strategy, conceding only 28 runs. His ability to adapt and target stumps effectively was evident, as he dismissed Faf du Plessis and executed a surprise bouncer to Axar Patel. Traditionally seen as a defensive bowler, Pandya has transformed into a more aggressive bowler in IPL 2025, amassing 13 wickets, his highest tally in IPL history.

“Krunal has built a reputation for a reason. He’s been a phenomenal spin bowler for many years, typically maintaining a low economy rate. However, his willingness to bowl more aggressively this season and take wickets has been refreshing,” added Bobat.

With Pandya excelling as both a bowler and a batsman, the events of April 27 at Kotla showcased his brilliance and strengthened RCB's prospects for their first championship victory. “I spoke with him at halftime, and he passionately discussed improving our fielding positions. He has a wealth of tactical knowledge, then went out and delivered with the bat,” Bobat concluded.

“This victory, despite our batting struggles, exemplifies the character and unity of our team. We’re in a strong position now, having played consistent cricket all season, and we’re witnessing our character shine at this critical stage of the competition,” Bobat remarked.