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Experienced all-rounder Krunal Pandya once again does the trick for RCB as he tricks the big fish in the form of Jos Buttler, who was the last reasonable hope for the Gujarat Titans in their IPL 2026 final clash against the Royal Challengers.
RCB were already dominating the big guns in that Gujarat Titans batting lineup, as Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Josh Hazlewood had done the trick much earlier within the powerplay.
The majority of the scoring still coming from that Gujarat Titans top order could have terrified the defending champions, but Josh Hazlewood struck early against the GT skipper while Bhuvi returned to dismiss the in-form Sai Sudharsan in the very next over.
Jos Buttler left dumbstruck as Krunal Pandya deceived him with wit
Jos Buttler remained the only reliable batter for the Titans. He was one among the top three batters from the side and had contributed handsomely with 500+ runs in the season. With Gill and Sudharsan back in the dugout, it was time for Buttler to break the shackles after his long stay at the crease.
Buttler decided to step down the pitch on the first ball of Krunal Pandya's final over of the game. However, it seemed that he had almost sent Pandya a telegram to inform him of his tactics. Pandya bowled it on the wideline, away from Buttler's wide reach and Jitesh Sharma was all set to make a quick move behind the stumps.
Sharma was lightning quick, and Buttler had no chance to get back as he fell into the trap set by the RCB maestro Krunal Pandya. Pandya, pumped up, roared like a lion as he celebrated Buttler's wicket with great pleasure.
The Man of Finals doing what he does best! 🫡
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) May 31, 2026
Krunal Pandya outsmarts Jos Buttler and #RCB are roaring 🔥
Updates ▶️ https://t.co/Yz6K3q6w0X#TATAIPL | #Final | #TheFinalLeap | #RCBvGT pic.twitter.com/L3UkTRyhBg
Krunal eyes 5th IPL title to match Hardik Pandya's trophy cabinet
Royal Challengers Bengaluru not only have several big match-winners in their squad but also comprise of several former match-winners. Hence, the team is not only experienced at playing for a long time but also performs and wins under high pressure situations.
One such player is Krunal Pandya, the Indian spin bowling all-rounder. Just like the last season, Pandya has stood up for RCB with both the bat and ball and he continued his form in the final as well.
However, having won three former IPL titles with the Mumbai Indians, his former franchise and one with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru last season, Krunal is eyeing his fifth IPL title in order to match his tally with brother Hardik Pandya, who has won five titles in his IPL career.
Josh Hazlewood's extraordinary record in Finals
It's another final, and the world is witnessing another match of pure class and brilliance from the big Australian pacer. Josh Hazlewood might not have had a similar season in 2026 to that of 2025; however, his significance on that RCB bowling deck continues to be everlasting.
Hazlewood picked two wickets immediately in the IPL 2026 final, matching his standards. He provided crucial breakthroughs every time he has been called into the attack. Hazlewood's record in the finals would surely shock any cricket fan.
Hazlewood has featured in five T20 finals and has also featured in four ODI finals in tournaments across franchise, domestic, and international cricket, and he has never lost a single final in his entire career.
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