Krunal Pandya played a decisive role for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the IPL 2026 Final against the Gujarat Titans (GT), claiming the crucial wicket of Jos Buttler via a sharp stumping from Jitesh Sharma. His clever bowling performance helped restrict Gujarat's innings in check with just giving 23 runs in the 4 overs he bowled. Throughout the 2026 season, Krunal proved to be a valuable asset for RCB, contributing heavily with both bat (225 runs) and ball (13 wickets). From his significant strategy of bowling as a left-arm spinner to his single handed performances with willow in crucial games as a saviour of collapse had been the plot for him this season.

Krunal Pandya was the ultimate hero of the IPL 2025 final too, bowling a game-changing spell of 2/17in his 4 overs to help Royal Challengers Bengaluru defeat the Punjab Kings by 6 runs and secure their maiden IPL title. That kind of stellar performance fetched him the Player of the Match in the finale and also made RCB retain him for yet another season.

Fans on X called Krunal Pandya “Clutch Pandya” because of his remarkable ability to perform under extreme pressure and deliver match-winning performances when his team is struggling. He frequently walks into tough batting collapses and anchors the innings or shifts momentum to drag his team out of trouble or breakthrough partnerships in matches like Jos Buttler’s tonight ensuring GT remains backfoot.

Netizens flood X with praises for Krunal Pandya for picking crucial wicket in IPL 2026 Final

Some RCB fans said that Krunal Pandya performing in an IPL Final is nothing of a rare sight but a statement. Some even acknowledged the fact how he has been doing this for years even in MI yet not being limelight enough of his skills.

GT finished off the first innings with only 155 on board with nothing much to be spoken about and would aim to defend it against RCB to win their second IPL trophy.