Krunal Pandya and Mukul Choudhary (Source: X)
Royal Challengers Bengaluru continued their strong run in IPL 2026 with a convincing five-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium on Wednesday. The home side dominated the game with a disciplined bowling performance led by Rasikh Salam Dar and Krunal Pandya.
While the match itself was largely one-sided, a brief moment between Krunal Pandya and Mukul Choudhary became a major talking point.
RCB's dominant performance against LSG
Chasing a modest target of 147, RCB looked comfortable from the start. With a deep and in-form batting lineup, the task never seemed challenging. The return of Virat Kohli, who featured as an impact substitute after recovering from illness, provided stability at the top.
Kohli made 49 runs helped to lay the foundation for the chase, ensuring there was no panic in the middle overs. The rest of the batting unit played responsibly to guide RCB home with ease.
RCB's victory was set up earlier by an impressive bowling display. After being asked to bat first, LSG started cautiously. However, Rasikh Salam Dar struck in the fourth over to dismiss Aiden Markram, breaking the early momentum.
The situation worsened for LSG when captain Rishabh Pant was forced to leave the field after being hit on the elbow by a delivery from Josh Hazlewood. This incident disrupted LSG’s rhythm further.
Hazlewood then delivered another blow by dismissing Nicholas Pooran for just one run. At 63 for 2 after nine overs, LSG were struggling to accelerate. Mitchell Marsh tried to steady the innings with a solid 40 off 32 balls, but Krunal dismissed him at a crucial moment, halting any chance of a comeback.
Krunal Pandya sledges Mukul Choudhary
One of the most talked-about moments of the match came during the 12th over of LSG's innings. Krunal Pandya had just dismissed Abdul Samad, a wicket that also marked his 100th in the IPL.
Soon after, Mukul Choudhary walked in to bat and made an immediate impact. On the very first ball he faced, he played a confident paddle sweep to the fine leg boundary for four runs.
Also Read: Krunal Pandya Stares Hardik Pandya In The Eye, MI Captain Does This
The shot appeared to irritate Krunal, who reacted with visible frustration. He was seen exchanging a few words with the batter, expressing his displeasure at being hit for a boundary right after a wicket.
Mukul Choudhary remained calm and did not respond, focusing instead on his game. The moment quickly caught the attention of many, comparing Krunal Pandya’s aggressive reaction to the well-known on-field intensity of his brother, Hardik Pandya.
Watch the video here:
Krunal Pandya's massive record
Krunal also achieved an important milestone in the match. He finished his spell with figures of 2 wickets for 38 runs in four overs. More importantly, he became one of the few players in IPL history to achieve 100 wickets, 1500 runs, and 50 catches.
This achievement places him alongside some big names, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, and Dwayne Bravo.
Players to Complete 100+ Wickets, 1500+ Runs & 50+ Catches in IPL:
- Ravindra Jadeja (3336 Runs, 173 Wickets & 110 Catches)
- Axar Patel (1919 Runs, 131 Wickets & 77 Catches)
- Dwayne Bravo (1560 Runs, 183 Wickets & 80 Catches)
- Krunal Pandya (1757 Runs, 100 Wickets & 53 Catches)*
RCB's dominant performance in IPL 2026 so far
With this win, RCB continued their impressive run in IPL 2026. The defending champions have now won four out of their first five matches and are currently leading the points table. Their campaign began with a solid win against Sunrisers Hyderabad, followed by a convincing victory over Chennai Super Kings.
Although they suffered a setback against the Rajasthan Royals, RCB bounced back strongly with wins against the Mumbai Indians and now the Lucknow Super Giants.
RCB will next face Delhi Capitals on April 18 at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
