IPL 2026: Willow and willpower — Krunal Pandya braves cramps to inspire RCB to gritty win
The final few deliveries of Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s clash against Mumbai Indians were quite excruciating for Krunal Pandya.
Wickets fell like nine pins around him, but the target seemed within reach. With every shot he played, the cramps seemed to get even worse.
He decided to fight on rather than surrender to the pain. The two sixes he hit in the 18th over, falling to the ground after every attempt, eventually helped the defending champion over the line in a tense chase.
“The cramps were quite painful. It started with the calf, then the hamstring and the glutes. Both my legs were cramping. I was very clear. I will not go out. I will fight through and make sure I can do whatever I can for the team,” the all-rounder told reporters after his match-winning knock.
When asked what it took to play through the pain, Krunal said, “Sheer willpower. Over a period of time, I have always played with the attitude of not giving up, and I have always cherished these tough situations.”
Since joining RCB, Krunal has had to contribute very little with the bat. The star-studded top order has done most of the team’s work. But he has revelled in encounters like these, playing back-against-the-wall knocks that have proved to be crucial in the team’s success. Since 2025, Krunal has played just 13 innings with the bat, twice scoring half-centuries from positions of bother to take his team to a win.
“If you look at the batting order, I have no fixed number. I have batted from three to eight in my career. Sometimes, it can be challenging because you need momentum. But, I feel the team has trusted me,” Krunal explained.
“I just have the simple mindset that whenever I go out to bat, I will see the situation. I have never gone after personal milestones. I will try to approach the situation in the way the team wants,” he added.
The southpaw also showered praise on the impact Dinesh Karthik has had with the RCB batting unit. “If you look at how we have performed with the bat, even in an up-and-down season like this, a lot of credit must go to DK [Dinesh Karthik]. He has spent a lot of time individually with each player, working on their strengths and weaknesses,” the all-rounder said.
It has been just under five years since Krunal last donned the India colours. After sliding down the pecking order after 2021, he has written himself back into contention with his performances for RCB. The all-rounder says he continues to harbour aspirations to play for the country in the shortest format.
“Since I was six or seven years old, I have dreamt of playing for India. There is still no change in that. My goal is to play for the country. A World Cup is coming next year, so fingers crossed. I just want to keep doing well and get that opportunity,” the 35-year-old outlined.
Published on May 11, 2026
