Krunal Pandya on IPL 2026 final: 'I love this sort of atmosphere'
Synopsis
Krunal Pandya walks into the IPL 2026 final at the same ground where he won RCB their first-ever title in 2025 — and he says the bigger the pressure, the calmer he gets. With four finals played and four won, Pandya is the ice-veined veteran at the heart of RCB's bid to become back-to-back champions.
Key Takeaways
Krunal Pandya described the IPL 2026 final as 'pretty exciting', saying he thrives under high-pressure conditions.
RCB face Gujarat Titans in the title clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium , Ahmedabad , on 31 May 2026 .
Pandya won Player of the Match in the 2025 IPL final at the same venue, taking 2 for 17 in four overs.
He holds a record of playing four IPL finals and winning all four.
Pandya cited RCB's three-to-four-day break after Qualifier 1 in Dharamshala as a recovery advantage heading into the final.
Krunal Pandya, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) left-arm spin all-rounder, says high-pressure finals are where he thrives — and the IPL 2026 title clash against Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 31 May is no different. Speaking ahead of the game, Pandya described the occasion as 'pretty exciting', with 1,20,000 fans set to pack the world's largest cricket stadium.
Pandya's Final Pedigree
The Narendra Modi Stadium holds a special place for Pandya. It was the venue where RCB clinched their maiden IPL title in 2025, with Pandya earning the Player of the Match award for a match-winning spell of 2 for 17 in his four overs. He now enters the 2026 final with a record of having appeared in four finals and won all of them — a streak he is eager to extend.
'I mean, it's been good till now. I hope I continue that consistency. The pressure in those games is much higher, and I like that because it helps me keep my nerves calm so I can execute the necessary skills in that particular moment. I enjoy, I love this sort of atmosphere,' Pandya said in a pre-game chat with broadcasters.
On the Favourites Tag
With RCB entering as defending champions, the favourites label has followed the side into the final. Pandya, drawing on 11 years of IPL experience, pushed back on the notion that tag means anything once the ball is bowled.
'Regardless whether you are a favourite or whether you are underdogs, regardless how many games you have won before, on that particular day, you have to just go out there and execute your skill because the beauty of this tournament is that every team has so many match winners,' he said. 'You just have to be on your A game from ball one to the last ball.'
The Rest-Day Advantage
RCB secured their place in the final by winning Qualifier 1 in Dharamshala, earning a three-to-four-day break before the title clash — time Pandya acknowledged as a genuine edge after a gruelling two-and-a-half-month tournament.
'Before playing the finals, if you get that three, four days break, that's a really good time to recover well and be fresh for the game. So that's a bit of an advantage. But again, where we play, everyone's fitness level is top notch. So it boils down to how you go out there and execute your skill,' he added.
What's at Stake
A second consecutive title would make RCB back-to-back IPL champions for the first time in the franchise's history. Gujarat Titans, meanwhile, are chasing their third IPL crown. With the world's largest cricket ground at full capacity, the stage is set for one of the most-watched finals in the tournament's history.
Point of View
With their own history of finals experience, will test it. The real story here is not the favourites tag — it's whether RCB's squad depth can absorb the inevitable momentum shifts across 40 overs of a knockout final.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Krunal Pandya say ahead of the IPL 2026 final?
Krunal Pandya said he loves the atmosphere of high-stakes finals and finds that pressure helps him stay calm and execute his skills. He described the IPL 2026 final against Gujarat Titans as 'pretty exciting', speaking in a pre-game chat with broadcasters.
What is Krunal Pandya's record in IPL finals?
Pandya has played in four IPL finals and won all four. In the 2025 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium — the same venue as the 2026 title clash — he was named Player of the Match for a spell of 2 for 17 in four overs.
Who are RCB playing in the IPL 2026 final?
Royal Challengers Bengaluru are facing Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2026 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on 31 May 2026. RCB are defending their 2025 title.
Does Krunal Pandya think RCB's favourites tag matters?
No. Drawing on 11 years of IPL experience, Pandya said labels mean little on the day — every team has match-winners and the side that executes its skills from ball one to the last ball will prevail.
How did RCB qualify for the IPL 2026 final?
RCB qualified by winning Qualifier 1 in Dharamshala, which also gave them a three-to-four-day break before the final — a recovery window Pandya acknowledged as a slight advantage after a two-and-a-half-month tournament.
