Hardik & Krunal Pandya Skip Handshake After MI vs RCB Clash, Rift Speculation Rises

April 13, 2026: Hardik Pandya came face-to-face with his brother Krunal Pandya in a big IPL match between the Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at the Wankhede Stadium. The match became more than just cricket, as fans noticed unusual tension between the two brothers. Reports suggest that Hardik and Krunal are not on very good terms at the moment, and this game only added more attention to their relationship.

During the match, Krunal Pandya bowled to Hardik Pandya when he came out to bat. Krunal started with a bouncer directed at his younger brother. Hardik responded by just giving a cold stare. Normally, the Pandya brothers are seen joking and smiling with each other on the field, but this time, the atmosphere looked serious and different. There were no friendly talks or smiles between them.

Aggressive moment sparks viral reaction

When Hardik was dismissed, Krunal celebrated the wicket in a very aggressive way. His reaction surprised many fans because it looked stronger than a normal celebration between family members. This moment quickly went viral on social media, and many people started talking about a possible rift between the two brothers.

After the match also, things did not look normal. Hardik and Krunal did not shake hands or speak to each other. Usually, players meet after the game, but this time the brothers avoided each other completely. This made fans even more sure that something is not right between them.

Before this match, rumours about their relationship were already spreading on social media. Fans had noticed that Krunal did not publicly praise Hardik after India’s T20 World Cup win. On the other side, Hardik also did not wish Krunal on his birthday on social media. These small moments added more fuel to the rumours of a rift.

Some fans also pointed out changes in their family posts and public appearances. There were discussions online about their personal lives, including social media activity and family photos, which increased speculation even more. However, none of these rumours has been confirmed by the players or their families.

Krunal Pandya didn't went to shake hand with hardik Pandya.
Is everything normal between them??#hardikpandya #MIvRCB pic.twitter.com/WhxPKEwcZP

— impact player (@whypratik) April 12, 2026

Talking about the match, RCB batted first and scored a huge total of 240/4. Phil Salt played a strong innings of 78 runs, while captain Rajat Patidar scored a quick 53 runs off just 20 balls. Their batting helped RCB set a very difficult target for MI.

Mumbai Indians started their chase but kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Sherfane Rutherford played a fighting knock of 71 runs and tried to keep MI in the game. However, the team could not maintain partnerships, and the pressure kept building.

In the end, the Mumbai Indians fell short and lost the match by 18 runs. It was their third defeat in four matches, while RCB continued their strong form in the tournament. The match will be remembered not only for the result but also for the emotional moment between the Pandya brothers.