Krunal Pandya is ready to conquer another Indian Premier League (IPL) season with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). The spin bowling all-rounder was the player of the match in the final of the IPL 2025 season to help RCB claim their maiden league trophy, after 18 years. Pandya was named the player of the match for his exceptional bowling figure of 2/17 in 4 overs.
It was not the first time that the spin bowling all-rounder was named the best player in an IP. When he was with the Mumbai Indians (MI), in the 2017 season, Pandya emerged as the best performer in the final. He did the same in 2025, to become the only player to be player of the match in IPL finals twice.
Krunal Pandya’s all-round performance helped the Mumbai Indians to win IPL 2017
In the final of IPL 2017, the Mumbai Indians were up against the Rising Pune Supergiants. The 20-over match was a low-scoring contest, but it forced the fans to stand on their toes out of excitement.
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The team led by Rohit Sharma won the summit clash by only 1 run, posting 129 runs in the first innings. With Ajinkya Rahane and Steve Smith, Pune started the run chase well, but eventually failed to meet the asking run rate, mostly because of Pandya.
The finger spinner bowled with an economy rate of 7.75, and added 47 runs in 38 runs with the bat. He was the top run scorer for the Mumbai Indians in the summit clash. Later, MI released him ahead of the 2022 season.
Best yet to come: Krunal Pandya said 4 years ago
Four years ago, after leaving MI, the all-rounder said that his best was yet to come.
“Everyone wants to be the player who has that award. But, honestly, not really. One thing I know is: my best is yet to come. And I feel it is going to come very, very soon. I’m well prepared,” Pandya said 4 years ago.
“I’m in a great zone. Just a matter of time. Because every cricketer has a phase where things go as he wants, so I want to be so, so ready for that phase where I grab it not with both hands, but with my entire body and make the most of it,” he added.
Did Krunal Pandya get his best IPL moment by winning the IPL 2025 Final?
Winning IPL 2025 with Royal Challengers Bengaluru, as well as the second Player of the Match award, was it the best of Krunal Pandya? The 34-year-old again said that he is still a long way from going, as he has got the momentum after winning the IPL 2025.
“Feels really good that whatever I said in 2022 has come out exactly the way I said it. After 17 years of drought, and then in the 18th season, RCB winning the trophy and me being part of it – I had a decent, tiny contribution to their success – can’t ask for more than this.
“Going forward, I’m still hungry. I feel like this is just the beginning,” Krunal Pandya said to ESPNcricinfo ahead of the IPL 2026 season.
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