Lucknow have managed to win just two of their four games so far and are coming into the clash today after a defeat in their previous game at home to Shubman Gill’s Gujarat Titans. RCB, meanwhile, will be bouyant after travelling to Mumbai and defeating the Mumbai Indians at the imposing Wankhede Stadium.
IPL 2026: Krunal Pandya’s 120+ kph bouncer revolution — How the Royal Challengers Bengaluru spinner became cricket’s most unexpected weapon
Krunal Pandya of Royal Challengers Bengaluru bowls during Match 11 of the TATA Indian Premier League 2026 between Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Chennai Super Kings at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru, India, on April 5, 2026. (CREIMAS)
Bhuvneshwar Kumar said it with the quiet pleasure of someone making a point too good to argue with. “Since last year, you have bowled more bouncers than me.”
Krunal Pandya laughed. “Why should fast bowlers have all the fun? Spinners also should have fun.”
Before Sunday’s game against Mumbai Indians, Krunal had debuted a new haircut — braids, paired with a fresh tattoo, chosen after he polled his Instagram followers on four options and went with the winner. He had been saving it for the right moment.
He always is. Not a spinner who occasionally surprises, but one who has spent the last two years dismantling the category itself.
