Within the MI vs RCB battle last night, the contest between the Pandya brothers was highly anticipated.

Ever since they parted ways from MI, they have been up against each other many times in the last four seasons. But yesterday at the Wankhede, where both had become the players they are now, the rivalry had an extra edge.

Though Hardik won the exchange against his older brother, the latter had the last laugh bowling a brilliant final over and stopping MI batting charge. MI fell short by 12 runs, thanks to Krunal.

Last night, Krunal's  first 5 balls to his brother read 6, 6, wd, wd, 1. Hardik had brought the batting equation to 65 off 30 balls at that time. Hardik had come good with his bat explosively. They both exchanged some words and easy smiles at the bowling end. Hardik knew that he had aced the deal with his brother.

But with one more over left for Krunal, there was some hope for redemption for him.  With MI needing 19 runs off the last over, Patidar threw the ball to Krunal.

Can a spinner stop the batting juggernaut in the final over? Well, Krunal held his nerve and conceded just six runs while taking three wickets. His composure under pressure was a testament to his experience and skill.

Krunal finished with figures of 4/45 in his four overs. While the numbers might seem expensive, the context of his wickets made his spell invaluable. He dismissed Mitchell Santner with a low full toss in the final over, setting the tone for a dramatic finish. His second wicket came from a short delivery that surprised Deepak Chahar, leading to a stunning boundary catch by Phil Salt and Tim David. He then removed the dangerous Naman Dhir in the penultimate ball of the over, effectively sealing the game for RCB.

Krunal's spell was the turning point in a game that saw momentum swing wildly. His ability to execute under pressure not only secured a 12-run victory for RCB but also ended its long-standing jinx at the Wankhede Stadium. His performance was a masterclass in death bowling, combining tactical brilliance with mental fortitude.

Krunal has proved to be a pivotal figure for his new franchise RCB. He has been delivering for the team, right from the first match against KKR. His performances so far have cemented his reputation as a clutch player.  His variations and game awareness have allowed him to pick crucial wickets at key moments, often turning the tide in RCB's favour. While his economy rate has been on the higher side in some matches, his knack for breakthroughs has made him invaluable.