Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) all-rounder Krunal Pandya played a match-winning knock in their IPL 2026 clash against Mumbai Indians (MI) at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium. Coming in to bat when RCB were struggling at 39/3, Krunal scored a brilliant 73 off 46 balls and guided the defending champions to a thrilling two-wicket victory despite suffering severe cramps in both legs.

Krunal Pandya on his batting while suffering cramps

After the match, Krunal spoke about the pain he went through during the innings and how difficult it was to continue batting.

“The cramps were really painful. It started in my calves and then spread to my hamstrings and glutes. Both my legs were cramping badly,” Krunal said.

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“But I had made up my mind that I would not walk away. I wanted to fight through the pain and do everything possible for the team.”

He added that the importance of the match motivated him to stay at the crease. Notably, RCB came into the clash after losing two consecutive matches against the Gujarat Titans (GT) and the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), respectively. 

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“This was a very important game for us. At this stage of the tournament, every match matters a lot,” he said.

“So I just wanted to keep fighting and contribute in whichever way I could.”

How Krunal Pandya managed to carry despite pain?

When asked how he managed to carry on despite the pain, Krunal credited his mindset and fighting spirit.

“I would say it was pure willpower,” he explained.

“If you look at my career, I’ve always tried to fight in difficult situations and never give up. That’s what kept me going.”

This was not the first time Krunal had rescued RCB from trouble. He had earlier helped the team recover from 25/3 against Delhi Capitals, but he said this innings felt even more special.

“Yes, the situation was similar last time as well. Having Virat Kohli at the other end always gives confidence,” he said.

“But this innings was more special because wickets kept falling regularly and the pressure was much higher. It was also an important game for us in the tournament. Any contribution in a winning cause feels special.”

Krunal Pandya for Raipur Pitch

Krunal also said the pitch in Raipur was not easy for batting.

“The wicket was a bit tricky and two-paced. You could see throughout the 40 overs that batting was challenging.”

Krunal Pandya's mindset while coming to bat

RCB had lost three early wickets before Krunal steadied the innings in the middle overs.

“When I went out to bat, we were already under pressure after losing three quick wickets,” he said.

“My plan was simple — build the innings from there and put the team in a position from where we could win the match.”

The Rajat Patidar-led side will now face Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in their upcoming clash on May 13 at the same venue. 

RCB's IPL 2026 Playoffs Qualification scenario after MI clash

After registering a two-wicket win against MI, RCB now holds the top position in the points table of IPL 2026. The side now needs to win one of their three remaining matches to seal a berth for playoffs. If RCB managed to win two to three matches, the side would finish in the top two, which would give them two chances to reach the final.