The K pi = 0+ and K pi = 4+ bands of 52Cr, populated through the 51V(4He, 2np) 52Cr reaction with a 45 MeV 4He beam, have been studied using the Indian National Gamma Array (INGA) facility. The level scheme has been verified utilizing the results of intensity, directional correlation, and linear polarization measurements. Lifetimes of a few excited states in the observed bands have been measured/remeasured using the Doppler shift attenuation method (DSAM). Large basis shell model calculations have been performed within the f p valence space to understand the microscopic origin of these bands. Structural evolution and K mixing throughout the bands in 52Cr have been investigated using the calculated quadrupole moments (Qs) and the results obtained from one-nucleon transfer spectroscopic factor calculations.