New Delhi: In a heart-wrenching turn of events at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai Indians (MI) faced their fourth defeat in five matches of the IPL 2025 season, succumbing to Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) by a narrow margin of 12 runs. This loss marked RCB’s first victory at the Wankhede in a decade, adding to the emotional weight of the evening.
MI’s captain, Hardik Pandya, was visibly moved by the defeat, which saw his team slip to eighth on the points table. The emotional moment was captured when his brother, Krunal Pandya, an all-rounder for RCB, consoled him with a heartfelt hug on the field. The brothers, sharing a deep bond, were seen conversing on the ground after the match, showcasing their mutual respect and affection despite being on opposing teams.
During the post-match interaction, Krunal expressed his feelings, stating, “We knew only one (Pandya) would win. But the love and affection we have for each other is very natural. He batted well. We both wanted to win. I feel for him.” This statement highlighted the unique situation where family ties intersected with professional rivalry.
Krunal played a pivotal role in RCB’s victory, delivering a crucial final over where he defended 19 runs. He dismissed Mitchell Santner and Deepak Chahar off the first two deliveries and maintained a tight line and length throughout, effectively sealing MI’s fate. Hardik, who initially seemed optimistic during the final over, was left stunned as the momentum shifted decisively in RCB’s favor.
Reflecting on the match, Hardik admitted, “We fell short by two hits, don’t know what to say. It came down to execution.” His performance was notable, scoring a brisk 42 off 15 balls and taking two wickets, yet it wasn’t enough to steer MI to victory.
Both Pandya brothers shone as key performers in the match. Krunal’s four-wicket haul broke the backbone of MI’s chase, while Hardik’s explosive batting kept MI in the game until the very end. As MI looks to rebound from their second consecutive loss by the same margin, the team will need to regroup and refocus to climb back up the standings.