Krunal Pandya had nothing but sympathy and love for brother Hardik Pandya after RCB’s tough win over MI in Mumbai

Overjoyed after a thrilling IPL win against MI, RCB star Krunal Pandya showed love and sympathy for his dejected brother, Hardik Pandya.

Krunal Pandya had nothing but sympathy and love for brother Hardik Pandya after RCB’s tough win over MI in Mumbai

Krunal Panyda expressed his sympathies for younger brother Hardik Pandya, following RCB's thrilling win over MI. (via India Today)

Royal Challengers Bengaluru star Krunal Pandya was overjoyed at the end of a thrilling IPL encounter against Mumbai Indians on April 7. At the end of the match, Krunal Pandya expressed his love and sympathy for younger brother Hardik Pandya, who was understandably left dejected. 

RCB faced off five-time IPL winners MI at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday night. Batting first, the visitors raced to an impressive total of 221 runs for the loss of five wickets in their 20 overs, courtesy of some impressive batting from Virat Kohli, captain Rajat Patidar and Jitesh Sharma. Kohli top-scored with a 67-run knock off 42 balls, while Patidar came second with 64 runs off just 32 balls.

YouTube video

Chasing 222 runs seemed to be an impossible task for Mumbai Indians, who had won just one out of their first four IPL encounters this season. Despite a strong start, the MI batting order collapsed soon after, as MI lost four wickets at the end of the 12th over. Suryakumar Yadav departed for a meager 28 runs, while Will Jacks, Ryan Rickelton and Rohit Sharma also failed to capitalize on the start.

However, Tilak Varma, who had been taken off the ground in MI’s previous encounter against Lucknow Super Giants, brought MI back into the match. He scored a brilliant knock of 56 runs, assisted by Hardik Pandya‘s incredible 42-run knock, as the two players stitched a crucial 89-run partnership. In the 15th over of the match, the two Pandya brothers, faced off in a intense familial affair.

However, the older Pandya conceded 19 runs, with the MI captain hitting two sixes in that very over bowled by his brother. As Mumbai Indians seemed closer to victory, disaster struck. The all-set Tilak Varma lost his wicket to Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the 18th over. The home side soon lost ground, with Hardik Pandya losing his wicket in the very next over, to Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood. 

Krunal Pandya was the star for RCB at the end, with his last-over heroics sealing the win for the visitors. With 19 needed off the last six balls, the Baroda all-rounder conceded just seven runs. He dismissed Naman Dhir and Deepak Chahar off the first two balls of the 20th over. The match left the MI skipper shattered in the dugout, as witnessed his side suffer their fourth defeat of the season.

Meanwhile, an elated Krunal Pandya claimed his first four-wicket haul in the IPL, interestingly against his former franchise. Speaking after the match, the 34-year-old emphatically stated that only one Pandya, out of the two brothers, was supposed to emerge victorious. While depicting his love and affection for his younger brother, Krunal took some time off to praise Hardik’s batting display for the team.

The bond that we 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 batted really well and I feel for him.

Krunal Pandya said (H/T: Hindustan Times)

Nonetheless, keeping aside the rivalry, the Pandya brother, who hail from Baroda, Gujarat, shared a warm embrace after the match. They were then seen chatting away from their respective team camps, sharing thoughts about the thrilling contest between RCB and MI.

Hardik Pandya achieves new individual record despite the loss

On Monday, Mumbai Indians captain and Indian national team star Hardik Pandya successfully completed 200 wickets in T20 cricket, across all competitions throughout his career. The 31-year-old all-rounder achieved this feat during MI’s IPL encounter Royal Challengers Bengaluru. 

Hardik Pandya 200 T20 wickets
Hardik Pandya recorded his 200th T20 wicket, in an IPL encounter between MI and RCB. (via IPL/X)

RCB batter Liam Livingstone became Hardik’s 200th T20 scalp. Pandya has now taken 200 wickets, in 291 matches, throughout his decade-long career.

74 out of the Pandya’s 200 wickets have come in 141 IPL matches. Meanwhile, he has scalped another 76 wickets in 110 T20Is for the Indian cricket team.

Moreover, the 31-year-old all-rounder also moved up to second place on the leading wicket-takers list for captains in IPL history. Hardik Pandya now has 32 wickets to his name as IPL skipper, but still remains way behind Shane Warne, who tops the list with 57 wickets.