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“Pressure Is Always There”: RCB All-Rounder Krunal Pandya’s Honest Admission

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Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Krunal Pandya said the pressure of being defending champions in IPL 2026 is a big factor in driving him to perform his best as an individual in tough situations. Pandya was a standout performer in RCB winning IPL 2025, amassing 109 runs and taking 17 wickets, including figures of 2 for 17 in the final to win the Player of the Match award and get his side their first-ever championship title.

He also holds the unique distinction of being the first player in IPL history to win the Player of the Match award in two separate finals (2017 and 2025). At third place in the IPL 2026 points table, RCB will aim to solidify their chances for a playoff spot when they take on Lucknow Super Giants at the BRSABV Ekana Cricket Stadium on Thursday evening.

“It’s a very good place to be, knowing that we are defending champions. Pressure is always there when you play at the highest level, regardless of whether you are defending champions or not. I always believe that as an athlete, I try to prepare myself for tough situations.

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“Whenever there is extra pressure or a need to perform, that gets me going as an individual. So yes, there is pressure, but at the end of the day, nothing really changes. It’s just a game. You must approach it the same way, whether you are defending champions or not.

“Having played almost a decade at this level, I have some experience to share with my teammates as a senior player. At the end of the day, it’s about keeping things simple, no matter what the situation is,” Pandya said on JioStar’s ‘Superstars’ episode.

In IPL 2026, Pandya has picked nine wickets in as many games at an average of 26.55 and economy rate of 8.85 in IPL 2026, while amassing 40 runs with the bat. Pandya also revealed that his preparation for matches stems from the life lessons he’s experienced so far.

“A lot depends on how you have lived your life. Most of us come from humble backgrounds. Sometimes life teaches you more than anything else. I am no different. But over time, I have always prepared myself for the toughest situations.

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“Every cricketer wants to do well and be the hero when he steps on the field. I feel that when the stakes are high, when things are not going your way, or it is a do-or-die situation, that brings out something special in me.

“A lot of that comes from how I prepare. I tell myself that if I am working hard, it’s not for an easy game. Every game is tough. But I want to prepare for a situation where everything is stacked against me and then see how I can still perform,” he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)


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TKO COO Mark Shapiro Drops Elimination Chamber Bombshell; WWE Nearly Set Another Record

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TKO’s Mark Shapiro provided certain details about WWE during the first-quarter 2026 earnings call.

Some of the topics Shapiro focused on were WWE’s rising ticket prices, creative criticism by the fans, and the fate of events planned for Saudi Arabia, among others.

He spoke about premium live events and those being the revenue-driving factor for the quarter. Mark Shapiro revealed that WWE Elimination Chamber’s had a “meaningful” YOY increase after it’s debut on ESPN. The premium live event has emerged as the second-highest arena gate in the company’s history.

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Apart from Elimination Chamber, Shapiro revealed that Royal Rumble 2026 was the event that kick-started the increase in YOY for live events and hospitality.

Mark Shapiro revealed where the company stands with fan criticism about prices and creative decisions

WWE has been criticized by fans for the way storylines are unfolding and the rate at which ticket prices are increasing. TKO’s focus on revenue over affordability has caused several fans to opt out of purchasing tickets to premium live events.

Shapiro has claimed that the company makes it its top priority to listen to criticism and act as much as possible to improve the situation. However, he also revealed that what WWE is hearing as creative criticism isn’t new, and dissatisfaction will always persist within the WWE Universe.

Coming to commercial elements and ticket prices, TKO’s COO revealed that while the company has heard the criticism with utmost priority and is working around it, when it comes to commercial elements, there is no magic formula to make things work. Trial-and-error is the way to figure out how to make the change work for both fans and the company.

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Apart from that, Mark Shapiro clarified that the planned events for Saudi Arabia are not cancelled and will move ahead as previously stated.

Lately, news has surfaced that TKO was directly behind the recent wave of superstar releases and how the situation was handled. Even Kevin Nash pointed out the irony in offering lower wages to superstars while the top executives bagged in billions.