Former Indian Test opener Aakash Chopra showered praise on Krunal Pandya after Royal Challengers Bengaluru registered a six-run win in IPL 2025 final against Punjab Kings at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on Tuesday.
Defending a target of 191, Pandya bowled a game-changing spell to take RCB to glory for the first time in 18 years of IPL. The left-arm orthodox spinner returned with impressive figures of 2-17 in his quota of four overs and played a key role in restricting the opposition to 184.
“The biggest thing is that if your weakest link becomes your strongest suit, you will say ‘well done,’ because a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma seemed to be the weakest link. However, guess what, Krunal Pandya won three Player of the Match awards,” Chopra said on his YouTube Channel.
The 34-year-old all-rounder accounted for Prabhsimran Singh with a slower ball and then got the big wicket of Josh Inglis, who was taking the game away from RCB. The Australian scored 23-ball 39 but Pandya had him caught at long-on.
“Match-changing spell. He first dismissed Prabhsimran Singh by bowling slow, and then he dismissed Josh Inglis by bowling fast. I think Josh Inglis’ wicket was the game-changing moment because the match went totally in Bengaluru’s favor from there. Only one guy could have won this match after Shreyas got out, and that was Josh Inglis. However, he was dismissed, and I think that was game, set, and match,” he added.
On the other hand, the renowned commentator hailed the bowling duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal. While Kumar returned with figures of 2-38 in his quota of four overs, Dayal bagged 1-18 in three overs he bowled.
“Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal should also be spoken about. Bhuvneshwar Kumar conceded 38 runs in four overs for sure, but he picked up two wickets. He took important wickets. Yash Dayal was phenomenal, three overs, 18 runs, and a wicket,” he said.
Chopra noted that Romario Shepherd got the crucial wicket of PBKS captain Shreyas Iyer and also highlighted that Josh Hazlewood has won all T20 finals.
“Romario Shepherd came and picked up a wicket at the start of his spell. Whose wicket was that? It was Shreyas Iyer’s wicket. Josh Hazlewood, of course, is par excellence. He never loses a final. He has won another final,” Chopra elaborated.
RCB were able to come up with a collective show in the all-important final, especially with the ball.
