The Wankhede Stadium witnessed history tonight as the Mumbai Indians (MI) achieved what they haven’t done since 2012—winning their opening match of an IPL season. Chasing a massive target of 221, Mumbai Indians broke two major curses in one night, hunting down the total with five balls to spare to secure a dominant 6-wicket victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
The Record-Breaking Opening Stand
Mumbai Indians had never successfully chased a 220+ target in seven previous attempts, but the duo of Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton made it look like a walk in the park.
- Vintage Rohit Sharma: The “Hitman” rolled back the years, smashing 78 off just 38 balls, dismantling Varun Chakravarthy and Sunil Narine with ease.
- Ryan Rickelton’s Masterclass: Justifying his selection over the experienced Quinton de Kock, Rickelton top-scored with a brutal 81 off 43 balls.
Together, they put on a staggering 148-run opening partnership in just 12 overs, effectively killing the contest before the halfway mark of the second innings.
KKR’s Bowling Woes Exposed
Coming into the game with a depleted pace attack, KKR’s vulnerabilities were laid bare. Without their frontline overseas seamers, Vaibhav Arora and Blessing Muzarabani struggled to find any rhythm on the grassy Wankhede surface. Even the spin duo of Narine and Chakravarthy appeared toothless against the MI onslaught, as Mumbai barely faced a hiccup during the chase.
First Innings Recap: Rahane & Raghuvanshi Shine
Earlier in the evening, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane lead from the front with a classy 67 off 40 balls, supported by another Mumbai local, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who scored a fiery 51 off 29. Despite MI debutant Shardul Thakur picking up 3/39, KKR managed to post 220/4—their second-highest score against MI—but it ultimately proved insufficient.
Match Summary:
- KKR: 220/4 (20 Overs)
- MI: 221/4 (19.1 Overs)
- Result: Mumbai Indians won by 6 wickets.
- Man of the Match: Ryan Rickelton (81 runs).
MI vs KKR Live Score