Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya [Source: AP]
The Hardik Pandya vs Krunal Pandya feud had a whole new fire on the eve of the RCB vs MI IPL 2026 clash. While the brothers were against each other, with Hardik being the skipper of the Mumbai Indians and Krunal being a key all-rounder for the RCB, the on-field altercations were iconic.
Krunal Pandya and Hardik Pandya tussled against each other as they met over a couple of deliveries, with Krunal firing some serious shots at his own brother Hardik.
The Supposed Beef Between Hardik and Krunal
Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya are blood brothers, sharing the same parents. Ever since both players emerged in the Indian cricket team and the Indian Premier League, the duo has been among the most prominent in the cricketing scene.
Hardik as well as Krunal share a happy and seemingly fulfilling relationship, and they were often seen attending festivities together, as evident from their Instagram posts.
However, in recent times, rumours have surfaced suggesting that there have been serious issues between the brothers since T20 World Cup 2026, leading to a quarrel, which has supposedly extended onto the cricket field now as well.
Krunal Aims At Hardik In RCB vs MI
While a face-off between Hardik Pandya and Krunal is not new in IPL clashes for RCB vs MI, a recent incident hinted at something unusual.
Being a spinner, Krunal bowled a sharp bouncer aimed at Hardik’s head, which even baffled the MI skipper. After Jacob Duffy dismissed Hardik in the 15th over Krunal was seen celebrating the wicket more aggressively than Duffy himself.
Krunal Pandya Breaks Silence On Brother Hardik Pandya
After the match, during the press conference, Krunal shared his thoughts on the Mumbai Indians’ defeat and made a firm statement regarding his brother Hardik.
Krunal also mentioned that Wankhede Stadium holds emotional value for him. However, as he is currently representing RCB, one team had to win, and that team was RCB.
"Wankhede Stadium is close to my heart..I played for 6 years for MI..eventually the points are coming home only, one Pandya had to win," Krunal said in the post-match press conference.
While the statement sounded neutral, Krunal’s ‘one Pandya’ statement might have been a subtle dig at the star Indian all-rounder.
Also Read- Krunal Pandya Breaks Silence On Hardik Pandya After Months Of Speculation
How Krunal Has Impacted RCB So Far
So far in IPL 2026, Krunal Pandya has been the second-highest wicket-taker for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. After Jacob Duffy’s six-wicket for the team, Krunal has taken five wickets from the four matches he has played.
He has been a bit on the expensive side, though, with an economy rate of 9.07. However, he has also been a strike bowler for the team, with a strike rate of 15.6.
While he went wicketless in the opening clash against Hyderabad, he found success against both Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals, including his one-wicket scalp of Hardik against Mumbai Indians.
With the bat, however, Krunal Pandya has not had much opportunity yet, as he has appeared in only one innings and was dismissed for just one run against Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati.
How Hardik Has Impacted MI So Far
On the other hand, Hardik Pandya has been a bit disappointing with the ball. He has featured in three matches for Mumbai Indians, while missing out on one, taking only two wickets at an average of 47.5 and an economy rate of 8.55.
With the bat, too, he has failed to make a significant impact, scoring just 67 runs in IPL 2026 at an average of 33.5, albeit at an impressive strike rate of 171.79.
Also Read- Vaibhav Sooryavanshi-Romi Bhinder Mobile Phone Use Reason Revealed
.jpg?type=mq)



