Royal Challengers Bengaluru all-rounder Krunal Pandya celebrated his 34th birthday with the team in Chennai. The celebration took place ahead of RCB’s IPL 2025 match against Chennai Super Kings. A video posted by the franchise has sparked speculation that Krunal’s long-standing feud with teammate Swapnil Singh may finally be coming to an end.
In the video shared by RCB, Krunal was seen cutting his birthday cake in the presence of his family and the entire squad. The biggest surprise for fans came when Swapnil Singh, RCB’s left-arm orthodox bowler, was seen feeding Krunal a piece of cake. This unexpected moment has led to widespread speculation that the two players may have decided to put their differences aside.
The feud between Krunal and Swapnil dates back to their time playing domestic cricket for Baroda. Swapnil had previously alleged that Krunal, who was the captain of the Baroda team, had played a role in his exclusion from the squad despite his strong performances. In a video, Swapnil revealed that he was among the top all-rounders in India in 2019. He was the highest run scorer for Baroda and also took several wickets. However, when the Baroda team was selected after the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, he was left out.
According to Swapnil, he had approached his captain at the time to question his omission from the team. He claimed that the captain had clearly told him there was no place for him in the squad. When Swapnil argued that he was among the top all-rounders in white-ball cricket, he was reportedly informed that his position had been given to a young player. It is worth noting that Krunal Pandya was the skipper that Swapnil is seen talking about.
“I was the highest run-scorer for Baroda and also took so many wickets. In 2019, I was the No.2 or No.3 all-rounder all over India in white-ball cricket. Then in 2020, Covid hit, and there was a Baroda selection after that. I was playing continuously and thought I was sure-selection. I met my captain, who clearly told me there was no place for me in the team. So, I told him directly that I was in the top two all-rounders in India, so how’s this possible? He said my position was given to a young player, and I accepted it,” Swapnil Singh said in a video shared by RCB.
It’s worth noting that Swapnil Singh isn’t the only player Krunal Pandya has had conflicts with. Reports suggest Krunal had a similar fallout with Deepak Hooda, where he allegedly used abusive language and threatened to remove Hooda from the team.
Their unexpected reunion came after RCB acquired both players in the IPL 2025 mega auction. Krunal was picked for ₹5.75 crore, while Swapnil was retained using the Right to Match (RTM) card for ₹50 lakh. Fans were surprised to see the former rivals in the same squad, especially after their public fallout.
Krunal’s birthday celebration came just after he delivered a match-winning performance in RCB’s recent victory over Kolkata Knight Riders. He was named Player of the Match for his all-round display, helping RCB chase down the target with seven wickets in hand and 22 balls remaining.
Now, with Krunal and Swapnil playing for the same franchise and sharing a lighthearted moment during the birthday celebration, fans are hopeful that their rivalry may finally be behind them. While neither player has made an official statement on their relationship, the video suggests that the tension between them may be easing. Their chemistry on the field in the upcoming IPL matches will likely provide further clues about their evolving equation as teammates.
RCB’s next game in IPL 2025 will be against Chennai Super Kings at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Friday, March 28.