Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton (BCCI) Mumbai: Mumbai Indians have finally ended their ignominy of losing the first match of the IPL, an unwanted habit they had for 13 long seasons — from 2013 to 2025. In fact, on Sunday night at the Wankhede Stadium, that unwanted record looked set to continue as Kolkata Knight Riders raced to an impressive total of 220 for four after being asked to bat first. Their openers, South African wicketkeeper Ryan Rickelton (81, 43b, 4×4, 8×6) and former skipper Rohit Sharma (78, 38b, 6×4, 6×6), who turned back the clock with furious batting, blasted KKR with their 148 off just 72 balls. That was never in doubt, even as the hosts lost a few late wickets. MI’s emphatic six-wicket win in a high-scoring game that came with five balls to spare did much to cheer their rowdy supporters. The first two days of IPL 2026 have now seen over 200 chased down quite easily, in an almost farcical manner, which tells you how tough life is for bowlers in the IPL. Right now, the bat-to-ball matchup is heavily tilted in favor of the bat in the league. In a curious development, India’s T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav introduced himself as an Impact Player and chipped in with an eight-ball 16 (3×4). As time turned, Rohit unleashed some big sixes, with his signature pull shot for a six on a six over Kartik Tyagi, who stood out, while skipper Hardik Pandya (18 not out off 11 balls, 3×4) finished the job. To make matters worse for the visitors, their captain Ajinkya Rahane, who had earlier blasted a fine 67 (40b, 3×4, 5×6), had to leave the field due to cramps, leaving his deputy Rinku Singh in charge. What must really worry KKR going forward is also the poor form of their leading man Varun Chakravarthy, who has conceded 0-48 in four overs and is clearly struggling for rhythm. Earlier, KKR batsmen across the spectrum, senior batsman Rahane and young gun Angkrish Raghuvanshi (51, 29b, 4×4, 2×6) smashed blazing fifties, while New Zealand opener Finn Allen (37 off 18 balls, 6×4, 2×6) and Rinku not) overcame 21 vitals (3×3) Singh. cameos to take KKR to an impressive total. On a night where the Mumbai players made their mark in front of the home crowd, Mumbai all-rounder Shardul Thakur was not far behind as he was instrumental in MI’s win. The ‘Palghar Express’, in what was a brilliant outing for MI, took three for 39 in four overs and was the pick of the bowlers at both ends in a game that saw the world’s top bowler Jasprit Bumrah lose a wicket for once (0-38 in four overs). Thakur dismissed Allen (caught at wide long-on) in the sixth over to give MI the much-needed breakthrough as the KKR openers went on a rampage. Cleverly using the slower balls and his variations, the 34-year-old then took the scalps of Rs 25.20 buy Cameron Green (18, 10b, 1×4, 1×6, smartly caught by a diving Sherfane Rutherford at deep cover), who was making his KKR debut, and Rahane (caught from a cross over at extra cover outside KR) to run away with the game. KKR got off to an electric start with Rahane, who hit his 34th IPL fifty, and Allen, who produced an unbeaten century against South Africa in the 2026 T20 World Cup semi-final earlier this month, as the opening pair added 69 off just 32 balls to lay the platform for a big total. In his first competitive match in three months – he last appeared in Mumbai on December 16, when he smashed 72 not out in 41 balls to help Mumbai chase down 217 against Rajasthan in Pune in the Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy – Rahane, who was ruled out of the Vijay Hazare Trophy and then the last of the home second half of the Ranji Trophy, looked tough. rusty. The veteran batsman batted beautifully, picking up the length early and unleashing some beautiful strokes, with the top pick being a four from Thakur. There were a few who questioned KKR’s decision to make Rahane captain again this season, but the 37-year-old, who finished as KKR’s top-scorer last season (390 runs in 13 matches at 35.45, with three fifties), looked determined to prove his worth. Allen launched an all-out attack and feasted on long bounces by MI’s Afghanistan debutant Allah Muhammad Ghazanfar (0-57 in four overs), picking up two sixes and a four in the third over to make it 17. Rahane then hammered back-to-back sixes before Hardik Pandya cut four fours, MI cutting the first two balls. the captain who conceded 26 in this match.
