IPL 2026: Krunal Pandya on 5 trophies in 11 years after RCB's title defence
Synopsis
Krunal Pandya's post-match words after RCB's IPL 2026 title defence were as much about gratitude as glory — five trophies in 11 seasons, a fanbase's 18-year wait finally rewarded twice over, and a quiet acknowledgement that the real battle was won at the auction table, not just on the pitch.
Key Takeaways
Royal Challengers Bengaluru successfully defended their IPL title in 2026 , winning back-to-back championships.
Krunal Pandya lifted the IPL trophy for the fifth time in his 11-year career.
Krunal credited Mo Bobat , Andy Flower , Dinesh Karthik , Malolan , and Omkar Salvi for building the title-winning squad.
RCB's back-to-back titles ended an 18-season wait for their fanbase, who first tasted glory in 2025 .
Virat Kohli has now won two consecutive IPL titles after nearly two decades with the franchise.
Krunal Pandya called Royal Challengers Bengaluru's back-to-back IPL title victory a reward for years of patience and meticulous planning, while also marking a personal milestone of lifting the IPL trophy for the fifth time in 11 seasons. The all-rounder spoke to reporters in Ahmedabad on 1 June after RCB successfully defended their championship crown.
Krunal on His Five IPL Trophies
The 35-year-old did not shy away from expressing the depth of his satisfaction at a career that now boasts five IPL titles. 'Every IPL trophy is special. There's no doubt about it. It's like having kids, right? You can't pick. Similar with IPL trophies because everything is so hard-earned,' he said.
Reflecting on the personal milestone, Krunal added, 'I'm so glad and grateful that in 11 years, to have five trophies, it's pretty special for me.' The achievement places him among the most decorated players in IPL history in terms of championship wins.
Credit to the Support Staff
While on-field performers drew widespread praise during RCB's title-winning campaign, Krunal was emphatic that the victory was built on collective effort behind the scenes. He specifically credited Mo Bobat, Andy Flower, Dinesh Karthik, Malolan, and Omkar Salvi for their roles in shaping the squad.
'A lot of credit goes to the support staff. The way they prepared before the auction also last year and the way they set the team — the balance of it,' Krunal stated. He further noted that 'sometimes half of the battle is won in the auction,' crediting the management's pre-season groundwork as a decisive factor in the franchise's consecutive title runs.
What the Win Means for RCB Fans
For a fanbase that endured 18 seasons without a title, the back-to-back triumphs carry extraordinary emotional weight. Krunal acknowledged this directly: 'All those 18 years of waiting and then winning two back-to-back trophies — this is for the RCB fans. Wherever we have gone, they have supported us.'
Notably, RCB's first title in 2025 ended one of the longest championship droughts in IPL history, and the 2026 defence has now cemented the franchise's emergence as a genuine powerhouse of the tournament.
Special Mention for Virat Kohli
Krunal also reserved warm words for longtime RCB stalwart Virat Kohli, who finally tasted IPL title glory in 2025 after nearly two decades with the franchise. 'For Virat, it's been pretty special — right after 18 and 19 seasons, having two back-to-back trophies. So yeah, it's amazing,' Krunal said.
With RCB now a two-time defending champion and their core group intact, the franchise will head into the next auction cycle as one of the most closely watched teams in the league.
Point of View
In different roles, across different eras of the tournament. But the more telling detail in his post-match comments was the emphasis on auction strategy: RCB's back-to-back wins are not an accident of form but the product of deliberate squad architecture. The franchise spent years being the league's most popular also-ran; their transformation into a back-to-back champion is a case study in what sustained front-office investment can achieve. Whether they can sustain this into a third title — with retention rules and auction cycles constantly reshaping squads — is the real question the next season will answer.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How many IPL trophies has Krunal Pandya won?
Krunal Pandya has won five IPL trophies across his 11-year career in the league. His fifth came with Royal Challengers Bengaluru's title defence in 2026.
Has RCB won back-to-back IPL titles?
Yes, Royal Challengers Bengaluru won back-to-back IPL titles in 2025 and 2026. Their first title in 2025 ended an 18-season wait for the franchise and its fans.
Who did Krunal Pandya credit for RCB's IPL 2026 win?
Krunal credited the support staff — specifically Mo Bobat, Andy Flower, Dinesh Karthik, Malolan, and Omkar Salvi — for assembling a balanced squad and preparing effectively before the auction.
What did Krunal Pandya say about Virat Kohli after the win?
Krunal called the back-to-back titles 'pretty special' for Virat Kohli, noting that Kohli had waited 18 to 19 seasons before finally winning his first IPL title in 2025 and then defending it in 2026.
Where was Krunal Pandya speaking after the IPL 2026 final?
Krunal Pandya spoke to reporters in Ahmedabad on 1 June after RCB's IPL 2026 title-winning match.
