Like brother Hardik last season, Krunal Pandya emerging hero for Mumbai

The left-arm spinner’s previous two games has put his brother in a shade. While Hardik was the find of the season for MI, Krunal is making sure the accolade stays within the Pandya clan.

Krunal Pandya hared down the Wankhede Stadium outfield, hands outstretched, celebrating like a man who had just won India the World Cup.

Mumbai Indians spinner Krunal Pandya celebrate the wicket of AB de Villiers during their match against Royal Challengers Bangalore in Mumbai on Wednesday. (PTI)

While the celebration seemed exaggerated, it showed just how much AB de Villiers and Virat Kohli’s wickets meant to the Mumbai Indians, as they must to any bowler. After all, the last time the two teams met, the duo had stitched an unbeaten 215-run partnership to take the game away from Mumbai.

That was not to be the case on Wednesday at the Wankhede Stadium as Krunal had Kohli caught at long off on 31 in the 11th over and then four balls later, flummoxed de Villiers with his spin to have him stumped for 28.

At that stage, RCB looked to be cruising to another gigantic total --- they were on 89/1 after 10 overs. Krunal’s twin strikes halted Bangalore’s march as the next three overs yielded 10 runs.

Krunal ended the night with figures of 2-27, once again turning the game in Mumbai’s favour when they needed it most. Only two nights ago, against Sunrisers Hyderabad at Uppal, he had scored an unbeaten 49 off 28 balls in the first innings to give Mumbai a fighting chance.