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Right then, a new week in the 2025 IPL has kicked off with an entertaining contest, setting things up for the rest of the week. Next up, we have a double header lined up on Tuesday, 8 April for all the fans. First up, it will be Kolkata Knight Riders welcoming Lucknow Super Giants at Eden Gardens and that game will begin at 3.30 pm IST (10 am GMT). This will be followed by a contest between Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings in Mullanpur and that one will begin at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). You can also tune in a lot sooner for the build-up of both those games. Cheers!

Rajat Patidar, the skipper of RCB, is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his stellar knock. Patidar says it was an amazing game and credits his bowlers for showing great courage under pressure. He reckons the Player of the Match award truly belongs to the bowling unit, who delivered when it mattered most. Adds that it is never easy to contain a team at this venue. Patidar lauds Krunal Pandya for holding his nerve in the final over, adding that the strategy was always to take the game deep and save Krunal's over for the end. Commenting on the surface, Patidar says it was a typical Mumbai wicket where the ball came onto the bat nicely. States that having a wrist spinner in the lineup is always a great weapon and appreciates Suyash Sharma for his efforts.

The Presentation ceremony...

Krunal Pandya is in for a chat. He says the bond between him and Hardik is built on genuine love and affection, and the mutual respect they share comes naturally. While both brothers were determined to win, Krunal reckons that’s the beauty of sport that only one team can come out on top, and he admits he feels for Hardik. Reflecting on the game, Krunal states that the experience came into play for him. Reckons clarity of thought was crucial, and committing 100 percent to the plan made the difference. Adds that he is glad it came off for him on the night. On working with Andy Flower, Krunal says it’s been enjoyable, mentioning that he had already spent two years with Andy during their time at LSG. He adds that the team is currently in a pretty good headspace. He also heaps praise on Rajat Patidar, stating that he has been terrific in leading the side. Krunal says that Rajat is the kind of captain who offers comfort and backs a bowler’s game plan, something every bowler wants. On Jitesh Sharma, Krunal says he has been outstanding both with the bat and behind the stumps. He credits Jitesh's top-notch game awareness and mentions the hard work he has put in. When asked about this potentially being RCB’s year, Krunal laughs and says he doesn’t want to jinx it. Adds that the focus is on taking it one game at a time and continuing to keep the wins coming.

Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya is down for a chat. He says this was a run-fest. He feels the wicket was very good and adds that with this kind of wicket, the bowlers have no space to hide, and they have to be at their absolute best with their execution to stop the bowlers. He feels he shouldn't be harsh on the bowlers, but he feels it was just a question of conceding 10-12 runs too many. He says the original setup of their team was always Naman Dhir walking lower down the order. He feels Tilak Varma played fantastically today, and in the last game, he was not 100 per cent and was not timing it well, and hence, he was retired out. He feels in these games, Powerplays are crucial, and he feels they couldn't really capitalize on a couple of overs. Feels good to have Bumrah back in the team. He says the message to the boys is to go out there and express themselves and the team backs them always.

Earlier in the game, Hardik Pandya won the toss and put RCB into bat. Trent Boult got MI the perfect start by knocking over Phil Salt in the very first over but that was as good as it got for MI in the Powerplay as Virat Kohli and Devdutt Padikkal counterattacked and got away plenty of boundaries and they put on a 91-run stand. Padikkal perished but Kohli stitched another 48-run stand with skipper Patidar as RCB continued to pile on the runs. MI did make a slight comeback with the ball but Patidar and then Jitesh Sharma made sure that RCB got to 200 and then some. Jasprit Bumrah didn't get a wicket on his return but apart from him, everyone else went for at least 10 runs an over.

Mumbai Indians were so close yet so far and just like the previous game, they managed to get into a position from where they could get ahead of the opposition but have ended up falling short again. The opening woes continued as both Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton got into double digits quickly and then perished. Will Jacks and Suryakumar Yadav tried to rebuild things but Jacks got out and SKY couldn't break free. Tilak Varma came in and tried to be the enforcer, keeping MI afloat but it was Hardik Pandya walked in when the momentum shifted completely. Hardik struck 32 runs off his first 7 balls but with 3 or so overs remaining, both Varma and Pandya got out in quick succession and the lower order simply couldn't find those big hits.

RCB have clutched it in the final couple of overs and what seemed to be heading towards a sureshot victory thrown away, has ended up being a third win out of 4 for RCB. The batters set things up with a mammoth score on board and then the pacers got RCB the perfect start in the first 6 overs by getting rid of both openers. They continued to bowl decently in the first half of the chase and seemed well in control but soon enough, the lack of wickets started to cost them. At one point, they conceded 41 runs in a space of 2 overs but bounced back with wickets. Josh Hazlewood and Krunal Pandya finished things off with a plethora of wickets and they got over the line in the end.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru are back to winning ways and what a way to seal a thrilling victory as well! RCB have now defeated reigning champions KKR at Eden Gardens, CSK after 17 years at Chepauk and now MI after 10 years at the Wankhede, all in the space of just four games and they will be oozing with confidence. On the other hand, heartbreak for MI yet again as they fall short by 12 runs, the same margin that was against LSG as well and once again, their skipper's heroics went in vain.

Royal Challengers Bengaluru win a close game and return to winning ways! Pandya floats it up, slower through the air, on middle and leg, Jasprit Bumrah gets down for a slog sweep but misses and wears it on the pads. Krunal has his hands aloft in celebration. RCB clinch this thriller by 12 runs!

OUT! TAKEN! That will do nicely for Royal Challengers Bengaluru! Krunal Pandya lets out a roar and this has been an excellent effort from him under pressure. Krunal does not quite nail the yorker, on middle. It comes out as a low full toss, Dhir gets inside the line and looks to swat it away behind square on the leg side. Fails to get the desired distance and Yash Dayal in the deep runs around to his right to snaffle it.

OUT! TAKEN! That will do nicely for Royal Challengers Bengaluru! Krunal Pandya lets out a roar and this has been an excellent effort from him under pressure. Krunal does not quite nail the yorker, on middle. It comes out as a low full toss, Dhir gets inside the line and looks to swat it away behind square on the leg side. Fails to get the desired distance and Yash Dayal in the deep runs around to his right to snaffle it.

FOUR! Edged away and MI are still in it! Pushed through, near the wide guideline on off, Dhir throws his hands at the delivery. Gets an outside edge that flies over short third for a boundary. 13 needed off 2 balls.

Halt! There seems to be a discussion between the square leg umpire and the keeper, Jitesh Sharma. Not quite sure about what. The RCB skipper and the other umpire also get involved and it seems the discussion was regarding the keeper moving about.

Short ball, on middle and leg, Naman Dhir gets inside the line and pulls it to deep backward square leg for a single. 17 needed off 3 balls.

Stumping chance missed? Krunal Pandya fires in a yorker down the leg side, Trent Boult looks to tickle it away but misses. The keeper, Jitesh Sharma fails to collect it cleanly but the replays show that Boult had his back leg grounded all the way through.

Trent Boult is in next.

OUT! CAUGHT! Excellent teamwork in the deep! Mumbai Indians are left stunned! There's that suprise bumper from Pandya, at the batter, Deepak Chahar waits back and goes for the pull. Does manage to connect it well but not well enough to clear the fence. Phil Salt at deep mid-wicket, runs around to his left and takes it with a leap inside the fence. His momentum takes him beyond the ropes, but before going over, he lobs it towards Tim David to his left, convering from long on. David does the rest, and Krunal has two in two. Hat-trick ball coming up.