IPL final, MI v RPS, Player of the match: Krunal Pandya

“When the wickets were falling, I wanted to play 20 overs because I was the only batsman. I knew if I stayed till the 19th-20th over I could attack,” Krunal Pandya said after the game.

Krunal Pandya's 38-ball 47 took Mumbai Indians to a match-winning total.

The Mumbai Indians bowlers pulled off a heist against Rising Pune Supergiant. No team in the past nine finals has defended a total as low as 129. In fact, it was the lowest ever in a play-off match. But, this total, in the end, was match-winning. And, this total, it wouldn’t have managed without Krunal Pandya’s 38-ball 47. The run-rate limped, his teammates came and went, and Krunal had to decide quickly whether to attack and risk his wicket or to stay put and steer the innings.

“When the wickets were falling, I wanted to play 20 overs because I was the only batsman. I knew if I stayed till the 19th-20th over I could attack,” he said after the game.

The 18 he scored in overs 19 and 20 took his team to 129, and eventually to the third IPL title.