Krunal Pandya forced to address rift rumours with Hardik Pandya by RCB's Mr. Nags

Apart from his all-round exploits for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru in IPL 2026, Krunal Pandya is also known for his unconventional approach to the game of cricket.

Despite being a left-arm spinner, Pandya has gained notoriety for bowling faster and faster speeds which have been consistently breaking the 100 kmph barrier. In fact, he has been known to bowl as fast as 124 kmph despite being a spinner.

Apart from his speeds, his out-of-the-box tactic of bowling bouncers to left-handed batters has also made waves throughout the tournament. This ploy has managed to bring him wickets as well from time to time. In fact, Krunal Pandya is RCB's second-highest wicket-taker in IPL 2026

Recently, he sat down for a lighthearted chat with RCB's "Mr. Nags". Mr. Nags is a character played by Bengaluru-based comedian-influencer Danish Sait and has been affiliated with RCB since 2014.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru recently posted a video of this interaction on their social media handles. The controversial nature of 'Mr. Nags' and his questions always take the internet by storm.

"To play for the country is the ultimate goal" - Krunal Pandya

Mr. Nags comically asked Krunal whether all his unconventional ways were an appeal for the national selectors, and the latter responded by saying that he would do anything to be able to play for the country.

"That's the ultimate goal, right, to play for the country? So, whatever you can do to get into the Indian team, I'll do everything." Krunal said.

"I wasn't actually sledging him" - Krunal on 'altercation' with Mukul Choudhary

During RCB's clash against Lucknow Super Giants in Bengaluru on April 15, Krunal Pandya came under fire on social media for apparently sledging the 21-year-old youngster Mukul Choudhary.

Krunal clarified that he wasn't actually sledging the youngster but simply having a laugh with him.

"Again in that, people were like 'Oh he's sledging a youngster', but I was not sledging. I bowled first ball to him, he went and played a paddle sweep. So I told him 'Mukul you're a young guy, you are hitting sixes over long on, long off, hit me there no, why you're playing paddle?' He was laughing, so I was just joking."

"But with that hairstyle and me talking, people think that I am serious and angry, but I'm not." Krunal said.

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"RCB fans abused me a lot" - Krunal Pandya

The southpaw also opened up on the hate he received early in his career from RCB fans after his good performances against his current franchise. Between 2016 and 2017, Krunal Pandya had dismissed AB de Villiers four times in four IPL matches, and on the fourth occasion celebrated by flashing four fingers.

"I remember in 2016 was my first season, I got him [AB de Villiers] out two times and 17 I got out him out two times. So when I took his wicket the fourth time I did this [flashed four fingers], and after the game, people have abused me. All the RCB fans abused me. Then I went to AB and clicked a picture with him. He was my favourite batsman by the way," Krunal recollected.

"All okay with my brother" - Krunal Pandya

Recently, the internet has been abuzz with rumours that all is not well in the Pandya household. Netizens have suggested that there has been a growing rift between Krunal and his brother Hardik Pandya.

In the chat with Mr. Nags, Krunal Pandya addressed this rumour and essentially put it to rest by saying that everything was fine between the two of them.

Check out the video posted by Royal Challengers Bangalore on their social media handles:

𝗔𝘂𝗿𝗮 + 𝗩𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘀: 𝗞𝗿𝘂𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗻𝗱𝘆𝗮 🤝 𝗠𝗿. 𝗡𝗮𝗴𝘀 😂🥶✌️

Krunal’s hairstyles, business ventures, on field tactics & antics, and some personal life secrets - Mr. Nags bowls bouncers to Krunal Pandya on this latest episode of @bigbasket_com presents RCB Insider.… pic.twitter.com/iI4U3KofMI

— Royal Challengers Bengaluru (@RCBTweets) April 22, 2026

RCB next match schedule

RCB's next match will be against the Gujarat Titans on April 24. RCB are second on the points table with 4 wins in 6 matches, but GT are sixth with 3 wins in 6 matches.

That game will be the last league stage match to be held at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru in this year's IPL.

RCB will play their other two home matches at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur