The Royal Challengers Bengaluru vs Mumbai Indians (RCB vs MI) match on May 10 was a low-scoring but eventful contest in New Raipur. From the stand-out batting by Krunal Pandya to the timely maximum by Bhuvneshwar Kumar, RCB won the match because of a collective effort.
After the match, in the dressing room, Virat Kohli highlighted the key moments of the match. Kohli specially mentioned the stand-out performances displayed by Krunal Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar to gain two more points for the team.
A thrilling RCB vs MI match in IPL 2026
The pitch in New Raipur was not a batting paradise. Batters had to grind hard to collect every single run. In both phases of the match, it was the bowlers who mostly controlled the match. The target was only 167 runs, but RCB needed to drag the match till the final ball of the match, which was evidence of the challenging circumstances.
When prolific batters like Virat Kohli, captain Rajat Patidar, Devdutt Padikkal, Tim David, and Romario Shepherd failed to produce anything significant with the bat, it was Krunal Pandya who turned out to be the man in need for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Pandya’s 73-run knock off 46 balls took the team near the finish line. He played a significant part in the innings despite an issue in his calf muscle.
Krunal Pandya, it’s your best IPL knock so far – Virat Kohli
As soon as Krunal Pandya was dismissed, the Mumbai Indians tilted the momentum and made the match more competitive. In the final over, with 15 runs in 6 balls, Bhuvneshwar Kumar smashed a timely 6 and made the win possible for RCB. Kumar was named Player of the Match for his 4-wicket spell with the ball, and the effective unbeaten 7 off 2. Without the 6 from Kumar’s blade, the result of the match could have been different.
“KP, it’s your best IPL knock so far. You’re struggling with bouncing balls hitting you, you know, keeping low, bouncing up. But you never made an excuse. You just showed us how to grind, how to stay in there, find a solution, find a way,” Virat Kohli said in his speech in the dressing room.
“And even when you were cramping, those two sixes were actually the difference in the game where you could have easily said I can’t carry on. But, you know, you found the strength to carry on for the team. So, we can take a lot of inspiration from that. I think it was amazing. It was a match-winning knock for us. The way he was cramping but still batting, hitting sixes,” he added.
Virat Kohli teases Bhuvneshwar Kumar ‘David’
But for Virat Kohli, the moment Bhuvneshwar Kumar hit the six off Raj Bajwa in the penultimate over was the best. Funnily, Virat named Bhuvneshwar Kumar as Bhuvneshwar David.
“I think the most important moment in the game was Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s 6,” Virat Kohli said, followed by a huge applause by all of the players of RCB.
Virat Kohli takes over dressing room duties again. 😎
Recognises every performance that helped us cross the line, headlines KP’s knock and Bhuvi’s skills with the bat and ball. Watch these wholesome moments after last night’s win. 😍🎥❤️#PlayBold #ನಮ್ಮRCB #IPL2026 #RCBvMI pic.twitter.com/StePG5uXCb
— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) May 11, 2026
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