In Mumbai (Maharashtra), India, on April 8, ANI reported that left-arm spinner Krunal Pandya’s outstanding bowling helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru narrowly defeat Mumbai Indians with a margin of 12 runs in the last over of the closely contested, high-scoring match.

In a nail-biting finish at the famous Wankhede Stadium on Monday, Krunal Pandya claimed three crucial wickets in the last over, keeping both spectators present and those viewing from home utterly engrossed.

RCB scored 221-5 thanks to impressive performances from Virat Kohli (67) and Rajat Patidar (64).

The Bangalore-based team secured a victory at Wankhede after a decade-long wait. Following this win, RCB now stand in third place with three victories from their first four matches in the 18th season of the IPL.

Pursuing an enormous target of 222 runs, the five-time champions had a poor beginning as they quickly lost their opening batsmen Rohit Sharma (17 runs off 9 balls) and Ryan Rickleton (17 runs from 10 balls).

Following the collapse of these two wickets, the Mumbai Indians found themselves in difficulty at 38/2 after 3.4 overs, with newcomers Will Jacks (scoring 22 runs from 18 deliveries) and Suryakumar Yadav (accumulating 28 runs off 26 balls) now batting.

Under Hardik Pandya's leadership, the team reached the 50-run milestone during the sixth over of their pursuit.

Before Will Jacks returned to the pavilion for 41 runs scored in total with his dismissal coming in the 10th over as the side reached a team score of 79 off the accurate left-arm spin bowling from Krunal Pandya.

With a score of 97, the Mumbai team suffered their fourth wicket loss when Suryakumar had to return to the dugout during the 12th over, dismissed by left-handed fast bowler Yash Dayal.

Following the dismissal of Suryakumar, captain Hardik Pandya (scoring 42 runs in just 15 deliveries) joined forces with Tilak Varma (who made 56 runs from 29 balls). Together, they seized control and began aggressively targeting the opposition’s bowling attack.

The Mumbai outfit reached the century milestone in the 13th over and achieved 150 runs during the 15th over. Tilak got out in the 18th over as they accumulated 188 runs, and then, after six more overs, Hardik departed in the second-to-last over.

After those two wickets fell, there was no opportunity for the MI team to stage a revival, ultimately losing the game by 12 runs.

For the team led by Rajat Patidar, the standout performer with the ball was Krunal, who took four wickets in his four-over spell, conceding 45 runs. Yash Dayal and Josh Hazelwood both claimed two wickets each; Dayal gave away 46 runs in four overs, while Hazelwood conceded 37 runs in the same number of overs. Additionally, Bhuvnesh Kumar secured one wicket, giving up 48 runs in his four-over stint.

In the earlier part of the game, when MI secured the win during the coin toss and made RCB bat first, things kicked off with thrilling intensity. As Phil Salt firmly struck a Trent Boult delivery for a boundary through covers, Boult retaliated swiftly by dismantling his stumps in the very next over. This left RCB at 4/1 within just 0.2 overs.

Devdutt Padikkal accompanied Virat Kohli at the wicket. On his very first delivery, Padikkal greeted Boult with a boundary. Together, they dominated Boult during the third over; Padikkal launched a massive six over deep backward square leg, while Kohli concluded the over with two elegant boundaries, taking the total to 33 runs.

In the fourth over, the highly anticipated clash between Virat and Jasprit Bumrah took place, with Virat scoring eight runs off four deliveries against him, which included a powerful six hit over deep mid-wicket. In the following over bowled by Will Jacks, Virat struck two boundaries, helping Royal Challengers Bangalore reach their fifty-run mark within five overs.

During Deepak Chahar's last over of the Powerplay, Padikkal took advantage by hitting him for two sixes and a four, resulting in a combined score of 20 runs. By the conclusion of the first six overs, RCB had accumulated a score of 73/1, with Virat (scoring 36*) and Padikkal (accumulating 32*, both not out).

Although the run flow paused momentarily, RCB supporters found reason to celebrate as Virat scored his second half-century of the season off just 29 deliveries, hitting six boundaries and two maximums.

Nevertheless, the 91-run partnership between Virat and Padikkal came to an end when Padikkal was dismissed by Vignesh Puthur, who took a brilliant catch at long-on thanks to Will Jacks. Padikkal scored 37 runs off 22 deliveries, including two boundaries and three maximums. At this point, MI stood at 95/2 after nine overs.

By the conclusion of the tenth over, RCB had scored 100 runs, with captain Rajat Patidar (3*) teaming up with Virat (53*).

Although runs were scarce in the following two overs, Patidar managed to hit two boundaries off MI captain Hardik Pandya and then scored two sixes and a four against Mitchell Santner, aided by Virat.

The encouraging 48-run partnership between Rajat and Virat came to an end when Hardik dismissed Virat for 67 off 42 deliveries, featuring eight boundaries and two maximums, thanks to a splendid catch taken by Naman Dhir at deep square leg. Shortly after, Hardik had Liam Livingstone caught out by Jasprit Bumrah for just two runs off two pitches. Consequently, RCB found themselves at 144/4 during the 14.3-over mark.

At the other end, Rajat received backing from the powerful batting of Jitesh Sharma. During the 16th over, Jitesh notched up a boundary and a massive six, while Patidar hit a four off Boult’s bowling. Boult ended up giving away 42 runs in only three overs.

The skipper kept leading from the forefront by scoring another half-century this season, all within 25 deliveries, including four boundaries and three sixes. He dominated Pandya, launching two consecutive sixes followed by a boundary. The over concluded with a four off Jitesh’s bat, totaling 23 runs scored during the 17th over. Their partnership reached 50 runs swiftly, accomplishing this feat in merely 17 balls.

Due to a remarkable series of sixes from Jitesh, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) achieved their 200-run target in just 18.1 overs. However, the second-to-last over bowled by Boult proved costly, featuring two wide deliveries and two enormous sixes hit by Jitesh. Despite this setback, things concluded positively when Ryan Rickelton took an outstanding catch to dismissed Rajat for 64 runs off 32 balls, including five boundaries and four towering sixes. Boult’s bowling stint finished with figures of 2/57 after four overs. Consequently, RCB secured a score of 213/5 within 19 overs.

During the last over, Bumrah gave away a six off the bat of Jitesh, concluding RCB’s innings at 221/5. Jitesh remained not out on 40 runs off just 19 deliveries, having hit two boundaries and four maximums, alongside Tim David who was also undefeated on one run.

For Mumbai Indians, Hardik (2/45) and Boult (2/57) led the bowling effort, with Puthur claiming one wicket as well. In his return match, Bumrah conceded 29 runs off four overs without taking a wicket.

Brief Score: Royal Challengers Bangalore scored 221/5 in 20 overs (featuring Virat Kohli with 67 runs, Rajat Patidar contributing 64 runs, and Hardik Pandya taking 2 wickets for 45 runs), whereas Mumbai Indians managed 209/9 in 20 overs (with Tilak Varma scoring 56 runs and Hardik Pandya adding 42 runs, along with Krunal Pandya claiming 4 wickets for 45 runs). (ANI)