IPL 2025: On a historic night for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Krunal Pandya stood out as both a champion and a record-breaker. The experienced all-rounder became the first player ever to win the Player of the Match award in two IPL finals, securing his place in the league’s history.
Krunal Pandya Makes IPL History with Second Final Player of the Match Award
After RCB ended their 18-year wait for an IPL title with a close six-run win over Punjab Kings in Ahmedabad, Krunal shared an emotional moment with his younger brother, Hardik Pandya.
“I told Hardik that the Pandya household will have nine trophies in 11 years,” Krunal said after the match, visibly emotional. “We’ve both worked incredibly hard, and to contribute on a night like this means the world to me.”
Krunal, who earlier won Player of the Match in the 2017 final for Mumbai Indians, delivered again – this time for RCB. His tight spell of 4 overs, taking 2 wickets for just 17 runs, was crucial in the tense final.
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Punjab, chasing 191 for their first IPL title, started well with Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh putting up 43 quick runs. Arya fell for 24, and Prabhsimran kept going until Krunal Pandya dismissed him for 26. Krunal then removed Josh Inglis, who was threatening with a 39 off 23 balls. Liam Livingstone caught Inglis, a key moment in the match.
The 34-year-old from Baroda, who began his IPL career with Mumbai Indians and found a new home at RCB, said, “I’ve really enjoyed my time here. From the very first day, I said I wanted to win the title with RCB. That belief never wavered.”
As Virat Kohli dropped to his knees and the stadium roared in celebration, Krunal’s calm and vital performance stood tall. And back in Baroda, the Pandya family trophy cabinet now reflects a legacy of determination and success.
“When we were playing the first innings, I had this feeling that the slower you bowl, the better it’ll be. But you need courage to do that in T20 cricket. I just backed myself and varied my pace. If you bowled quick, it was a good wicket to bat on, but mixing it up made things difficult,” he explained. “My strength has always been understanding what the situation demands. Tonight, I knew I had to be brave.”
Punjab, chasing 191 for their first IPL title, started well with Priyansh Arya and Prabhsimran Singh putting up 43 quick runs. Arya fell for 24, and Prabhsimran kept going until Krunal Pandya dismissed him for 26. Krunal then removed Josh Inglis, who was threatening with a 39 off 23 balls. Liam Livingstone caught Inglis, a key moment in the match.
The 34-year-old from Baroda, who began his IPL career with Mumbai Indians and found a new home at RCB, said, “I’ve really enjoyed my time here. From the very first day, I said I wanted to win the title with RCB. That belief never wavered.”
As Virat Kohli dropped to his knees and the stadium roared in celebration, Krunal’s calm and vital performance stood tall. And back in Baroda, the Pandya family trophy cabinet now reflects a legacy of determination and success.
Hardik Pandya’s Emotional Tribute to His Brother
Meanwhile, Krunal Pandya’s brother and Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya took to his social media and shared an emotional note for his brother after his heroic performance. He wrote:
“In tears right now. Proud of you bhai.❤️🥹”
Check out the Instagram post:
ALSO READ: [WATCH] IPL 2025 Final: Virat Kohli Breaks Down In Tears As RCB Finally Wins Trophy
