A Captain’s Campaign in Crisis

Hardik Pandya’s return to Mumbai Indians last season, replacing fan-favorite Rohit Sharma as captain, has been anything but smooth. After a disappointing IPL 2024, the 2025 season hasn’t started on a strong note either. Monday’s match was a must-win, but even with Jasprit Bumrah back in the squad, the five-time champions couldn’t hold their ground.

Chasing a daunting target of 222, MI’s innings began to unravel early. With top-order batters Rohit Sharma (17), Ryan Rickelton (17), and Will Jacks (22) falling cheaply—two of them to Krunal himself—Mumbai found themselves reeling at 99/4 by the 12th over. When Suryakumar Yadav departed for 28, it seemed all but over.

Tilak & Hardik Ignite Hope

However, a spirited counterattack was ignited by Tilak Varma, who struck a flurry of boundaries in the 13th over, setting the tone for what would become a tense chase. Hardik joined the fireworks in the 14th over, smashing Josh Hazlewood for back-to-back boundaries and sixes. The MI skipper’s aggressive cameo had the crowd roaring as he raced to 20 off just 5 balls.

Krunal was brought back in the 15th over to break the momentum, but Hardik had other plans. He bludgeoned two massive sixes, and MI looked to be clawing their way back into contention. By the end of the 17th over, MI needed 41 from 18 balls—challenging, but not impossible.

Twist in the Tale

Veteran pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar struck a major blow in the 18th over, dismissing Tilak Varma for 56 after a mistimed shot found the fielder in the deep. Yet, hope lingered. Hardik was still at the crease with 42 off just 15 balls. But that hope was short-lived—Hazlewood returned in the 19th over and got Hardik out with the very first delivery, silencing the Wankhede crowd.

Despite a six from Mitchell Santner and some effort from Naman Dhir, MI ended the penultimate over at 203/6, still needing 19 off the last six balls.

The Krunal Show: One Pandya Prevails

In a poetic twist, it was Krunal Pandya who bowled the final over—against his own brother’s team. The stakes couldn’t have been higher, and Krunal delivered under pressure. He dismissed Santner with the very first ball and then got Chahar out in the next, sending the MI dugout into stunned silence.

Even with a boundary from Naman Dhir in the fourth ball, Krunal’s guile proved too much. He dismissed Dhir in the fifth delivery and closed out the match with a dot ball—sealing a famous 18-run win for RCB, their first at Wankhede in a decade.

Emotion Over Logic: Brother vs Brother

As the final wicket fell, the cameras zoomed in on Hardik—his smile replaced by disbelief. The defeat hit harder, knowing it came at the hands of his elder brother. While he had led a valiant chase, it was Krunal’s calm and experience that ultimately decided the match.

Post-match, Krunal acknowledged the bittersweet nature of the moment. “The bond that we share is strong,” he said. “Only one Pandya was supposed to win tonight. I feel for Hardik—he batted brilliantly—but as a bowler, sometimes you need to trust your experience. Execution is everything, and tonight, it worked in our favor.”

The Bigger Picture

This match will be remembered not just for the thrilling cricket, but for the emotional Pandya vs Pandya moment that stole the show. As Hardik Pandya looks to steer Mumbai Indians out of turbulent waters, this loss will sting—but may also fuel a fierce comeback