Former India player Aakash Chopra has applauded all-rounder Krunal Pandya for bowling a match-defining spell in the IPL 2025 final between the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) and the Punjab Kings (PBKS) as well. He said that his dismissal of Josh Inglis changed the game in RCB’s favour completely. Krunal registered figures of 2/17 in four overs as RCB restricted PBKS to 184/7 to win its maiden IPL trophy as well.

While talking about the IPL 2025 final in a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra,’ he said, “The biggest thing is that if your weakest link becomes your strongest suit, you will say ‘well done,’ because a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma seemed to be the weakest link. However, guess what, Krunal Pandya won three Player of the Match awards.”

READ HERE: Jasprit Bumrah Opens Up On Dropped Catches Against England

“Match-changing spell. He first dismissed Prabhsimran Singh by bowling slow, and then he dismissed Josh Inglis by bowling fast. I think Josh Inglis’ wicket was the game-changing moment because the match went totally in Bengaluru’s favor from there. Only one guy could have won this match after Shreyas got out, and that was Josh Inglis. However, he was dismissed, and I think that was game, set, and match,” he further added.

However, Aakash Chopra added that Bhuvneshwar Kumar (2/38 in four overs) and Yash Dayal (1/18 in three overs) also deserve applause for their stunning spells in the IPL 2025 final as well.

“Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yash Dayal should also be spoken about. Bhuvneshwar Kumar conceded 38 runs in four overs for sure, but he picked up two wickets. He took important wickets. Yash Dayal was phenomenal, three overs, 18 runs, and a wicket. Romario Shepherd came and picked up a wicket at the start of his spell. Whose wicket was that? It was Shreyas Iyer’s wicket. Josh Hazlewood, of course, is par excellence. He never loses a final. He has won another final,” Aakash Chopra concluded.