MI vs RCB, IPL 2025: 'Only One Pandya Was Supposed to Win' - Krunal Feels For Younger Brother Hardik

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Krunal Pandya feels for younger brother Hardik Pandya, but the Royal Challengers Bengaluru all-rounder admitted only one Pandya was supposed to win on Monday (April 7), and he is happy that emerged victorious over Mumbai Indians in IPL 2025 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Walking in to bat at number 6 with a scorecard reading 99/4 in 12 overs, Hardik played a blinder, scoring 45 off just 12 balls with 4 sixes of which two were struck off his elder brother Krunal's bowling. But his knock went in vain as Krunal had a telling contribution with the ball in the final over.

After Hardik had hit him out of the attack following the 15th over which cost 19 runs, Krunal was being handed the task of bowling the crucial final over with 19 runs to defend after pacers Yash Dayal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood had bowled out their quota of 4 overs each.

With no other realistic options left on unforgiving Wankhede wicket, RCB skipper Rajat Patidar brought back Krunal into the attack with Hardik and a settled Tilak Varma sent back into the dug out. And the experienced all-rounder delivered big time for RCB.

Krunal gave away just 6 runs in the final over, while he also added three scalps to his name by removing Mitchell Santner, Deepak Chahar and the dangerous Naman Dhir to finish with figures of 4/45 and helped RCB end their Wankhede Stadium jinx against Mumbai Indians.

During the 15th over Krunal could only answer with a smile to Hardik, whose only intent was to win a game for his team, which had already lost three matches in four. However, it was Krunal's embrace with his brother after the match which was a touching moment.

Following the match, Krunal opened up on his "natural" bond with brother Hardik, and added that the Royal Challengers Bengaluru winning the game in the end was important.

"The bond that we (Hardik and I) have, we knew there was only one Pandya that was supposed to win; the love and affection we have for each other is very natural. He (Hardik) batted really well and I feel for him, but we (our team) won and that is most important," Krunal said after the MI vs RCB match.

The 34-year-old also broke down his final over, crediting his previous experience of playing the venue during his stint with Mumbai Indians, being a key factor in his last-over heroics with the ball.

"When I came onto bowl, Santner was batting, and the leg side was shorter. With the number of games I played here in the last 10 years, at some point, the experience had to come in. As a bowler, sometimes you want to commit, and it is important to commit 100 percent, and it helps in execution," Krunal added.

Krunal Pandya, who earlier had stints with MI and Lucknow Super Giants, also opened up on his relationship with head coach Andy Flower and revealed how it is to play under a calm captain in Rajat Patidar before praising gloveman Jitesh Sharma for his game awareness.

"Andy (Flower) and I were there for 2 years in LSG, and it was good to know Andy from personal space and the way we are going as a team; we are in a very good head space.

"Rajat has been terrific in the way he has started, and he gives you confidence and backs your game plan as well. He is very calm and does not complicate things.

"Jitesh has been terrific, he has improved his game and the game awareness he has while batting is top-notch. With the glove, he has always been exceptional. I just want to keep my head down and keep winning," the elder Pandya said RCB beat MI by 12 runs.