In IPL 2026, Krunal Pandya surprised many fans by praising his younger brother Hardik Pandya during a quick interview.
Even though there have been talks about a possible family issue, Krunal spoke positively and called Hardik one of the best finishers in IPL history. He also mentioned Kieron Pollard as another top finisher.
Krunal’s Rapid-Fire Picks
During the interview, Krunal shared his choices for different IPL categories.
| Category | Player |
|---|---|
| Best Batter | Chris Gayle |
| Best Captains | Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni |
| Best Finisher | Hardik Pandya, Kieron Pollard |
| Best Fielder | Kieron Pollard |
| Best Fast Bowler | Jasprit Bumrah |
| Best Death Bowler | Lasith Malinga |
| Best Spinners | Sunil Narine, Rashid Khan |
| Best Shot | Virat Kohli (Cover Drive) |
His answer about Hardik stood out the most and became a talking point among fans.
RCB vs LSG Match Summary
Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) defeated Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 5 wickets at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium.
Match Scorecard
| Team | Score |
|---|---|
| LSG | 146 all out |
| RCB | 147/5 (15.1 overs) |
RCB chased the target comfortably and continued their strong run in the tournament.
RCB Bowling Performance
LSG struggled with the bat and were bowled out for 146.
| Player | Performance |
|---|---|
| Rasikh Dar | 4 wickets |
| Josh Hazlewood | 3 wickets |
Josh Hazlewood was named Player of the Match for his impact with the ball.
Kohli Leads the Chase
RCB started the chase with an early wicket loss, but Virat Kohli controlled the innings with an aggressive approach.
| Player | Runs |
|---|---|
| Virat Kohli | 49 |
| Rajat Patidar | 27 (13) |
| Jitesh Sharma | 23 (9) |
RCB completed the chase in under 16 overs and moved to the top of the points table.
Krunal Pandya’s Big Milestone
Krunal Pandya achieved a major milestone during this match.
| Milestone | Details |
|---|---|
| 100th IPL Wicket | Dismissed Abdul Samad |
| 1000 Runs + 100 Wickets | 6th player in IPL history |
This shows his importance as an all-rounder in the team.
Krunal’s Performance in IPL 2026
| Matches | Wickets |
|---|---|
| 5 | 7 |
He has been picking key wickets in the middle overs, which helps his team control matches.
Key Takeaways
- Krunal praised Hardik despite family rumors
- RCB dominated LSG with both bat and ball
- Kohli continued his strong form
- Krunal reached 100 IPL wickets milestone
- RCB moved to the top of the table
Final Thoughts
This match was important for both performance and off-field moments. RCB showed strong teamwork, while Krunal Pandya’s words about Hardik Pandya showed respect and professionalism.
Fans will now watch closely how both brothers perform in the rest of IPL 2026 as the competition gets more intense.
