The momentum at the Wankhede Stadium has shifted significantly. In a high-stakes IPL 2026 encounter, the Mumbai Indians (MI) have finally managed to see the back of the dangerous Ajinkya Rahane, thanks to a masterclass in change-of-pace bowling from debutant Shardul Thakur.
The Breakthrough: Thakur Outfoxes Rahane
Despite playing his first game in the MI blue-and-gold, Shardul Thakur has delivered a “top-notch” performance. He claimed the prized wicket of Rahane, who was looking set for a massive score after a blistering 67 off 40 balls.
Thakur utilized a clever cross-seam delivery, floating it full and wide outside off. Rahane, attempting to loft the ball over the cover infield, was deceived as the ball “stuck into the surface.” The resulting mistime went straight up, allowing Hardik Pandya to settle under a simple catch at extra cover.
MI Bowlers Tighten the Screws
The wicket was the result of sustained pressure built by the MI bowling unit. After KKR’s explosive Powerplay, Mumbai pulled things back brilliantly:
- Jasprit Bumrah: Showed his class by conceding just five runs in his second over, consistently nailing the “blockholes” and denying the batters any room.
- Trent Boult: Returned to the attack to deliver a tight over, giving away only eight runs.
- Allah Ghazanfar: Despite being hit for a six over midwicket by Rahane earlier, the youngster benefited from the pressure built at the other end.
Match Situation: Scoring Rate Dips
Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had a sensational start, but the period between overs 10.1 to 14 saw them manage only 30 runs. While they are still maintaining a healthy run rate of over ten per over, the loss of Rahane is a massive blow to their hopes of reaching a 210+ total.
Current Score: KKR 151/4 (14.2 Overs)
Key Bowler: Shardul Thakur (4/22)
MI vs KKR Live Score