An interesting, perhaps if also, somewhat bewildering sight caught the attention of the Indian Premier League fans a couple of evenings ago. And this was right at the conclusion of the key Royal Challengers Bengaluru contest against the Lucknow SuperGiants. Billed at the start as perhaps a one sided game given the dominant and consistent form of the Bengaluru side and specifically the wayward looking form of the Lucknow franchise, it was expected that the match would be less of a match and a more of a walk in the park for the Bengaluru outfit, eventually, the game slipped away from their grasp and given a really attacking display of the game shown by Lucknow, the win belonged to the one not thought a great deal of.

And perhaps that is the humbling reality of the IPL that not all goes as per the plans and the one underrated often punches above its weight, as was also the case with the victorious Lucknow SuperGiants side.

But the thing that somewhere stunned fans was the reaction that one saw between Pooran and Pandya

A sight on the ground following the game’s completion, something that quickly hyped up over the social media especially platforms like Instagram saw Nicholas Pooran grabbing the collar of the elder among the Pandya brothers. And some words, as seen clearly, were exchanged between the two.

And that sort of thing did fuel some speculation among the fans especially since there wasn’t any heated outcome between the two during the course of the match.

So one wondered as to what was the matter there?

And could you even doubt the fans for appearing somewhat stunned?

Offering clarity and rightly so, Krunal Pandya offered an explanation about the events stating in no uncertain terms that what was witnessed was nothing short of light hearted banter and it was simply, two friends who meant no harm to each other in anyway possible simply buddying it up!

That’s all that there was to it! 

In the act of offering clarification over the video that did tense things for the die hard IPL fans, one can say that Krunal Pandya of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru offered timely explanation to the fans and comforted them.

If anything, the two- Pandya and Pooran- have known one other for quite some time. Both have actually played for the same side back in the day. Back in the 2023 and the 2024 seasons, they were signed up with the Lucknow team and while Krunal moved on to join the Bengaluru squad, Pooran stayed back.

If anything, such instances actually show that there’s also a lighter side to competitive and exceedingly action packed cricket. 

It’s not that Pooran or Pandya were having a go at each other. The truth, as one gladly found out, couldn’t be any further from the assumption. IPL, therefore, is also a fun filled zone for players who contest with extreme focus and grind and such moments help the competitors lighten up!