IPL 2025: Krunal Pandya’s Last-Over Heroics Seal 12-Run Thriller for RCB Against MI at Wankhede

Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar’s fifties set up a massive total as Krunal Pandya’s 4-wicket haul ends Mumbai’s hopes despite Tilak-Hardik fightback

Mumbai, April 8: Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) pulled off a thrilling 12-run win over Mumbai Indians (MI) in a high-scoring IPL 2025 encounter at the Wankhede Stadium, thanks to a spectacular final-over performance from Krunal Pandya, who bagged 4 wickets for 45 runs.

Batting first, RCB posted a formidable 221/5, led by Virat Kohli’s fluent 67 off 42 balls and a blazing 64 off 32 by skipper Rajat Patidar. MI, in reply, mounted a powerful comeback led by Tilak Varma (56 off 29) and Hardik Pandya (42 off 15), but fell short in the final over.

🔥 Kohli & Patidar Light Up Wankhede

After being put to bat, RCB lost Phil Salt early, but Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal (37 off 22) built momentum with a 91-run stand. After Padikkal’s dismissal, Rajat Patidar took over and punished MI’s bowling, smashing five fours and four sixes.

Jitesh Sharma (40 off 19)* provided the perfect finish, helping RCB cross 220. Hardik (2/45) and Boult (2/57) were among wickets but remained expensive.

🎯 MI’s Spirited Chase Falls Short

MI’s chase began poorly with Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton falling early. Though Will Jacks (22) and Suryakumar Yadav (28) steadied briefly, it was the explosive partnership between Hardik and Tilak that gave MI hope.

The duo powered MI past 150 in the 15th over, but Krunal Pandya’s return in the final overs broke the back of the chase. He took three wickets in the final over, sealing the win and snapping RCB’s decade-long winless run at Wankhede.

🏏 Bowling Brilliance

• Krunal Pandya: 4/45 (4 overs) – Match-winning final over
• Yash Dayal: 2/46
• Josh Hazlewood: 2/37
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar: 1/48

📊 Points Table Update

This win took RCB to third place with three wins in four matches, while MI slid further down with just one win from five outings.

📌 Brief Scores:

RCB: 221/5 (Kohli 67, Patidar 64, Jitesh 40*; Hardik 2/45, Boult 2/57)
MI: 209/9 (Tilak 56, Hardik 42; Krunal 4/45)

RCB next faces KKR, while MI will look to regroup before facing Punjab Kings in their next fixture.