Krunal Pandya's 73 beats MI as RCB wins a historic final

Needing 11 off the last over to beat Mumbai Indians at M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, RCB sent Krunal Pandya — playing his first match against MI since his controversial release in 2023 — to the crease. Krunal's 73 off 38 had already taken RCB from 97/5 to within reach of MI's 189/5. In the final Jasprit Bumrah over, Krunal hit a six off ball one, was dropped on ball three, and with 5 needed off the last ball, ran two off a yorker, then completed the winning run while diving to beat the throw — RCB home by 3 wickets with one delivery to spare. The 80,000-capacity Chinnaswamy was at capacity; the match peaked at 4.3 crore viewers on JioCinema and Star Sports combined, making it the most-watched regular-season IPL game since 2018.

Krunal Pandya — 73* off 38 balls (3 fours, 6 sixes). Twelve balls of his innings came against Bumrah. The left-hander's flat-footed pull through midwicket against short balls was the tactical adjustment that changed the match's course. Jasprit Bumrah — 4-0-28-1. A masterclass in death-over bowling that still ended on the losing side; the dropped catch off his fourth ball denied him the win. Rohit Sharma (MI) — 68 off 44, including six sixes in the powerplay, setting MI's strong platform. Tim David — MI's finisher with a 24-ball 48 that took them past 180. On the field, Suyash Sharma's 3 wickets in the middle overs kept RCB in the chase.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (now officially 'Royal Challengers Bengaluru' following the city name change recognition) have played every IPL season without lifting the title. In 2008, the squad included Rahul Dravid, Wasim Jaffer, and a young Virat Kohli in his first season. The franchise's peak was the Virat Kohli-AB de Villiers era (2016 final, 2011 final), when batting brilliance was never matched by bowling depth. By 2026, the roster is younger and more balanced — the bowling attack includes Suyash Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, and fast bowler Josh Hazlewood (returning from injury). The fanbase has only grown: RCB merchandise sells 15 million units per year, making them the league's top commercial property. The title obsession is the franchise's defining tension.

189/5: MI's total in 20 overs, built on Rohit Sharma's 68 and Tim David's 48. 192/7: RCB's winning total off the last ball. 73* (38): Krunal Pandya's innings — 3 fours, 6 sixes, strike rate 192. 11: runs needed off the last over from Bumrah. 4.3 crore: peak concurrent viewers across JioCinema and Star Sports — the highest non-playoff IPL number since 2018. 80,000: paying fans at Chinnaswamy, sold out within 90 minutes of tickets opening. 20-14: head-to-head record after the match (MI still lead, but RCB closed the gap). ₹5.75 crore: Krunal Pandya's RCB auction price in 2024, against MI's earlier release. 12 of 38: Krunal's balls faced against Bumrah specifically — he scored 22 off them.

RCB vs MI is the IPL's great rivalry — not because of close records (MI leads 20-13 all-time) but because of the emotional weight attached to both fan bases. RCB, the league's most-supported team without a title, carries an almost irrational attachment for its fans; any win over MI — the most decorated franchise — carries outsized meaning. Krunal Pandya's involvement added a narrative layer: he was released by MI without a clear reason in the 2023 mini-auction, then bought by RCB at ₹5.75 crore. For the millions of fans who follow RCB — many of whom have no connection to Bengaluru — this win validates a decade of support that has never produced a trophy. The match was also the last home game of the group stage, making it a potential statement for playoff qualification that reshapes hope across an entire fan base.

IPL 2026 is the 19th edition of the league. At the halfway mark of the group stage, three stories are dominant: Sunrisers Hyderabad's pace attack (led by T. Natarajan and South African Anrich Nortje) is the best in the tournament; CSK, after a disappointing 2025, has rediscovered form through a new opening partnership; and the captaincy battle at MI between Rohit Sharma (back as captain after Hardik Pandya returned to NCA with injury) and a young middle order has produced both brilliance and inconsistency. The Krunal-RCB-MI thread is one of several personal storylines adding drama to a tournament that has steadily moved toward a product that balances entertainment and cricket quality. More broadly, IPL 2026 has crossed 50 million concurrent viewers for the first time — a figure that cements cricket's position as India's dominant mass entertainment platform. What this match shows is that the league's long-term future depends on personal rivalries and emotional stakes, not just star auctions — the impact of nights like this is what keeps the fanbase alive.

Krunal Pandya's 73 beats MI as RCB wins a historic final

The match in 2 minutes

The players who defined the evening

RCB in 2008 vs RCB in 2026

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