Ahmedabad, June 1: Under the captaincy of Rajat Patidar, Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) clinched the IPL 2026 title. RCB triumphed over Gujarat Titans by five wickets in the final match. Krunal Pandya attributed the successful defense of RCB’s IPL title to years of patience and strategic planning.
Krunal expressed his joy at winning the IPL trophy for the fifth time in his career, calling it a significant achievement. Having played a crucial role with both bat and ball for RCB in the last two seasons, Krunal noted that each championship holds a special place in his career, making comparisons nearly impossible.
After the victory, Krunal stated, “Every IPL trophy is special, no doubt about it. It’s like having children, right? You can’t choose. The same goes for the IPL trophy because everything is earned through hard work.” The experienced all-rounder reflected on his personal achievement after lifting the IPL trophy for the fifth time in 11 seasons, saying, “I am very happy and grateful to have won five trophies in 11 years; it is very special to me.”
Krunal credited the team’s consistent success to the franchise’s management and coaching staff. He highlighted the efforts of Mo Bobat, Andy Flower, Dinesh Karthik, Malolan Rangarajan, and Omkar Salvi in strengthening the team.
He mentioned that preparations were made well before last year’s auction, with careful selection of players. This thoughtful approach led to a well-balanced team that consistently performed well. According to Krunal, RCB’s success was established long before the first ball of the season was bowled.
However, for the 35-year-old Krunal, this achievement extends far beyond the dressing room. He emphasized that winning back-to-back trophies holds special significance for fans who waited 18 seasons to see the franchise claim its first title. Krunal remarked, “Absolutely. Winning back-to-back trophies after waiting 18 years is very special. This victory is for RCB’s fans. Wherever we played, they always supported us and boosted our morale.”
Krunal also praised RCB’s star player Virat Kohli. He noted that this achievement is particularly special for Virat, as he had the chance to win his first title with the team in 2025 after a long tenure, and then helped defend the title in the following season. Krunal said, “This is an incredibly special moment for Virat. Winning back-to-back trophies after completing 18 and 19 seasons is a remarkable achievement. It truly is amazing.”
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