New Delhi: It was another heartbreaking outing for Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2025, as they faced their fourth defeat in five matches. The latest loss came against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Wankhede Stadium, where RCB secured a rare and historic win — their first at the venue in 10 years.
MI skipper Hardik Pandya was visibly emotional after the 12-run defeat, which saw his team slip to the eighth position on the points table. In a heartwarming moment, his elder brother and RCB all-rounder Krunal Pandya was seen comforting him after the match. The brothers shared a long embrace before the post-match presentation and were later spotted having a candid conversation on the field.
“We knew only one Pandya would win. But the love and affection we share is very natural,” Krunal said in the post-match interaction. “He batted well, and we both wanted to win. I feel for him.”
Adding to the drama of the match, Krunal was the one who sealed the game for RCB, defending 19 runs in the final over. He dismissed Mitchell Santner and Deepak Chahar with the first two deliveries and kept the pressure on with a disciplined line and length throughout the over. Hardik, who initially smiled during the over, appeared stunned as the tide turned in RCB’s favor.
Reflecting on the loss, Hardik said, “We fell short by two hits. Don’t know what to say — it came down to execution.”
Both Pandya brothers played stellar roles in the match. Hardik smashed a quickfire 42 off 15 balls and took two wickets, while Krunal dismantled MI’s chase with a four-wicket haul and a match-winning final over.
With this being MI’s second straight defeat by a 12-run margin, the team will be eager to bounce back in their upcoming matches and regain momentum in the tournament.
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