Published: May 11, 2026 at 1:39 pm
Royal Challengers Bengaluru held their nerve in a last-ball thriller to knock Mumbai Indians out of TATA IPL 2026 with a dramatic two-wicket win on Sunday night. Mumbai Indians’ struggles this year have finally come to a rest.
With nothing to lose from hereon, what kind of an approach will Mumbai Indians take in the remaining matches. “In T20 cricket, ups and downs are bound to happen. Once the season ends, that’s the right time to properly assess what went wrong. But at this stage, my view is that the senior players have given everything they had. Now, it may be the right opportunity to give younger players a chance in the remaining matches. That will help the franchise understand how these youngsters handle pressure and whether they can justify the faith shown in them,” former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar told Star Sports’ Amul Cricket Live.
Glad I was able to contribute when team needed me the most, says RCB’s Krunal
Australian Aaron Finch praised Krunal Pandya’s ability to thrive under pressure. “He loves being in those situations. He’s a real fighter and enjoys stepping up when the team is under pressure. That’s exactly the kind of player you need in difficult moments. He timed his innings brilliantly, and I’m very happy for him. I think the fact that it came against Mumbai Indians made it even more special for him,” Finch said.
Mumbai’s Tilak Varma top scored with 57 but the side lost in a thriller to RCB. Pics: BCCI
RCB look a far more settled side: Finch
On RCB’s performance this season, Finch said: “This RCB side looks far more settled compared to previous years when they were constantly searching for combinations. Winning the title last season has given them clarity and confidence in the direction they want to take. They understand there will be setbacks along the way, but they have stayed committed to their approach. Even with Virat Kohli, despite an aggressive start not coming off, they still found a way to get over the line.”
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On the upcoming PBKS-DC match, in the Race to Playoffs, Gavaskar said: “I would still back Punjab Kings. Sometimes, a couple of losses can actually help a team reset and avoid complacency. Delhi Capitals, on the other hand, have lost games they should have won, and that has been a recurring issue for them this season. Punjab will know how important this stage of the tournament is, and they won’t want self-doubt creeping in with another defeat. I still see Punjab Kings and RCB as my finalists for this season.”
