Krunal Pandya’s voice ‘cracks up’, gets emotional as he speaks about Kieron Pollard; Ian Bishop forced to apologise

In a gripping IPL 2026 match, Krunal Pandya's emotional tribute to Kieron Pollard followed his pivotal innings for RCB, securing a win against MI.

Updated on: May 11, 2026, 07:45:56 IST

Written by Probuddha Bhattacharjee

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Krunal Pandya’s voice cracked on live broadcast after he helped Royal Challengers Bengaluru beat Mumbai Indians in a dramatic IPL 2026 finish in Raipur, with the all-rounder turning emotional while speaking about Kieron Pollard and his years with the five-time champions.

Krunal Pandya plays a shot during the IPL 2026 match between MI and RCB. (ANI Pic Service)

Krunal produced the defining innings of the chase, scoring 73 as RCB hunted down 167 in a tense two-wicket win. The result carried heavy consequences for the Mumbai Indians, whose campaign ended after another narrow defeat. For Krunal, the night carried a deeper personal layer. He had spent six seasons with MI between 2016 and 2021, winning three IPL titles and growing into one of the franchise’s most trusted all-round options during their strongest period.

Krunal recalls Pollard bond after hurting former side

Speaking after the match, Krunal opened up on his bond with Pollard, who was part of the Mumbai Indians’ title-winning core and remains one of the franchise’s most influential figures.

“Polly (Kieron Pollard) is my big brother. I have spent my best six years at Mumbai Indians. I remember Kieron Pollard and the Pandya brothers being the engine room there. It was obviously emotional, and I love Kieron Pollard. A terrific human being. GOAT of the format and won so many trophies and games. And as he says, you can’t keep a good man down,” Krunal Pandya said on the broadcast.

The line captured the weight of a dressing room that defined the Mumbai Indians’ dominance for years. Pollard joined MI in 2010 and became central to their five-title era, while Hardik Pandya and Krunal gave the side its all-round balance through the middle and death overs. Together, Pollard and the Pandya brothers formed a powerful lower-middle-order unit that repeatedly gave MI finishing strength, bowling depth and big-match control.

Krunal’s knock against MI came with that history in the background. He was no ordinary former player facing his old side. He was one of the players who helped build their most successful phase. His innings on Sunday then pushed RCB to the top of the table and ended MI’s playoff hopes.

The emotion became visible as Krunal continued speaking. Ian Bishop, who was conducting the post-match interaction, noticed the strain in his voice and chose to end the interview gently.

Also Read: How Bhuvneshwar Kumar shattered Jasprit Bumrah’s perfect setup as Mahela Jayawardene fumed in dugout

“I hear your voice cracking. So, I apologise for that. I will let you go now,” Bishop said.

Krunal walked away after a night that mixed professional satisfaction with old loyalty. He had won RCB a crucial game, hurt a franchise that shaped him, and spoken about Kieron Pollard with the affection of someone remembering family rather than just a former teammate.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Probuddha Bhattacharjee
Probuddha Bhattacharjee is a sports writer and analyst with expertise spanning cricket, football, and multi-sport events, with a strong emphasis on data-driven journalism and tactical storytelling. He currently focuses on international cricket, the Indian Premier League, global tournaments, and emerging trends shaping modern sport, blending advanced statistics with strong narrative context to explain performance, strategy, and decision-making. His work aims to bridge the gap between numbers and storytelling, helping readers understand not just what happened on the field, but the tactical and structural reasons behind it. Trained in data journalism through the Google News Initiative (GNI) Data Journalism Lab, Probuddha works extensively with ball-by-ball datasets, performance metrics, and trend-based modelling to produce evidence-backed reports, explainers, and long-form features. His analytical approach focuses not only on outcomes but also on process—selection strategies, phase-wise tactics, workload management, and the influence of preparation and planning on match results. He is particularly interested in how statistical patterns reshape conventional cricketing narratives and provide clearer tactical insight for modern audiences. Beyond cricket, Probuddha has written analytical and news-driven pieces on football and other major sporting events, with a growing interest in sports governance, scheduling dynamics, and the economics of elite competitions. He also tracks how rule changes, franchise structures, and broadcast pressures influence the evolution of contemporary sport. He has previously contributed to platforms such as OneCricket, Sportskeeda, and CrickTracker, and continues to specialise in analytical storytelling, live coverage, and audience-focused reporting. His work prioritises clarity, context, and credibility, while consistently exploring innovative ways to present data through accessible narratives and structured match analysis.Read More

Get live cricket scores, match updates, schedules, results and ICC rankings. Follow the latest news, statistics and performances of top teams and players on Hindustan Times.