Hardik and Krunal Pandya’s cold on-field exchange and missed handshake fuel fresh rift rumours, overshadowing RCB’s win over MI in a high-voltage IPL 2026 clash.
Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya played against each other last night at the MI vs RCB match at Wankhede. However, the audience and the commentators noticed the coldness between the brothers as Krunal Pandya gave a fiery send off to brother Hardik Pandya after he was dismissed by Jacob Duffy while MI was struggling to chase 241 against the Challengers.
According to reports from Loksatta and fan interactions, the brothers did not shake hands in the traditional post-match lineup and headed directly to their dressing room. This encounter between the brothers has fueled speculations of rift again after it was suspected that the brothers are not on good terms as neither Krunal Pandya nor his wife posted as Hardik Pandya and the team won the T20 World Cup earlier in March 2026. Online theories suggest a divide following Hardik’s divorce from Natasa Stankovic and his new relationship with Mahieka Sharma. While Krunal and Pankhuri have remained visibly close to Natasa and her son Agastya, Hardik has been seen more frequently with Mahieka.
However, in an interview with Crex Krunal Pandya has dismissed the rumours of rift stating that ‘nothing changes, we are brothers at the end of the day’. But the cold encounter between them has left the fans thinking otherwise.
RCB defeats MI at Wankhede
RCB clinched a close victory last night, as they defeated the Mumbai Indians by 18 runs after making a massive score of 241. The Mumbai bowlers fell short of expectations as Shardul Thakur, Mitchell Santner, Trent Boult and Hardik Pandya managed to pick only 1 wicket each while Jasprit Bumrah is yet to pick a wicket in the tournament while giving away 36 runs in the match last night.
While chasing the score Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton provided initial momentum but that fell short as Sharma had to retire out after a hamstring issue in the 6th over. Despite a late explosion of 9 sixes from Sherfane Rutherford, MI finished at 222/5. RCB's spinners, Suyash Sharma and Krunal Pandya, were instrumental in stalling MI’s chase during the middle overs.
