MI vs. KKR live score, IPL 2026: Rickelton and Rohit help MI overcome the opening game curse

Mar 29, 2026, 11:18 PM

Five balls remaining in a record-breaking MI chase

Kolkata Knight Riders 220 for 4 (Rahane 67, Raghuvanshi 51, Thakur 3-39) were defeated by Mumbai Indians 221 for 4 (Rickelton 81, Rohit 78) by a margin of six wickets.

In their seven prior attempts, the Mumbai Indians had never tracked down a target of 220 or more. Since 2012, the Mumbai Indians had never triumphed in their first IPL match. On Sunday, the second day of the 2026 Indian Premier League, MI defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets to start their season, breaking two jinxes as they chased down 221 in 19.1 overs.

Ryan Rickelton struck 81 off 43 balls and Rohit Sharma pulled back the clock with 78 off 38 balls. Together, they added 148 runs for the first wicket off 72 balls.

It was well known that KKR's bowling depth was severely lacking going into this first game. On Sunday night, Sunil Narine was a shadow of his former self, Varun Chakravarthy was useless, and Vaibhav Arora and Blessing Muzarabani were toothless.

KKR may have been pleased to reach 220 for 4 at the midway point, which was their second-highest IPL score versus MI. Ajinkya Rahane, who claimed to have "never seen so much of grass at Wankhede" before the toss, hit a scorching 67 off 40 balls, while another Mumbai boy, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, got 51 off 29 to help KKR over 220. However, MI had little trouble chasing down the highest successful target in the IPL at Wankhede with five balls remaining against a KKR team that was missing several of their front-line seamers.

This is the IPL's highest chase at Wankhede Stadium.

Mar 29, 2026, 11:08 PM

An enormous stand

Ryan Rickelton and Rohit Sharma's 148-run partnership is the greatest for any wicket at Wankhede Stadium ever. Additionally, it is the Mumbai Indians' third-highest stand for any wicket.

Mar 29, 2026, 10:59 PM

Rickelton is caught short by Anukul's stunning move.

Anukul did amazing work at the long-off boundary, and Ryan Rickelton was immediately run out. Anukul was slapped at a fast rate with a harmless-length ball. Rickelton gets sent back after attempting to score a second run. He discovers Muzarabani in his path when he turns around, and he is unable to get by him. Rickelton is short after Anukul's hard hit from deep. He undoubtedly does his job when he falls for 81 off 43. With two strong cuts for four at the beginning of his innings, Hardik reaches the necessary rate of seven.

Mar 29, 2026, 10:50 PM

What's wrong with Varun?

This is an insightful statistic from Shiva Jayaraman. In his last six Twenty20 matches, Varun Chakravarthy has gone for 273 runs from 23 overs. For a spinner who has bowled at least 120 balls in six straight T20 matches, his economy of 11.86 in these games is the worst.

Mar 29, 2026, 10:41 PM

Is it relief for KKR?

Anukul Roy's spectacular catch while rushing back causes Rohit to ultimately tumble. Arora threw it outside off with a low full toss. In an attempt to mow it across the line, Rohit gets back and across, but he receives a lot of top-edge that goes over mid-on. As Rohit falls for 78 off 38, his innings full of six fours and six sixes, Anukul Roy rushes back, watches the ball, and hangs on to a brilliant catch. As the impact substitute, Suryakumar Yadav gets right to the point, sweeping Arora over the short fine leg first ball.

Rohit had smashed one of the most daring sixes earlier in the over, cutting Arora over deep extra cover and then maintaining his bat straight, practically posing for the photographers. Rickelton will continue to pursue a century.

10.01 to 14 overs

1 6 • 1 1 4 4 6 1 1 1w W 4 • 1 1 1 1w 1 6 4 1 1 1 1w • 4

Mar 29, 2026, 10:29 PM

Selection is justified by Royal Rickelton

Ryan Rickelton's decision over the less seasoned Quinton de Kock drew some criticism, but the opener has proven his worth. Rickelton has an even stronger start to his IPL 2026 season after a strong debut in 2025. It only took Rickelton a few overs to develop a feel for the surface, and once he did, he was unstoppable. Vaibhav Arora was hit for consecutive sixes by him, one over extra cover and the other over deep midwicket. The KKR bowlers were brutally defeated as a result of that.

Rickelton took on Sunil Narine after the six-over mark, while Muzarabani was thrashed for a cross-batted heave over long-on and watched Rohit perform at the other end in the powerplay. After sweeping Narine over deep midwicket with his first slog, he deposited him over the ropes twice in three deliveries and quickly reached a fifty from 24 balls. In the ninth over, MI broke the 100-mark and kept pushing.

Mar 29, 2026, 10:20 PM

Rohit's fastest IPL

In his IPL career, Rohit's 23-ball fifty is the fastest he has ever scored. In the 2015 final at Eden Gardens, he hit his previous fastest off 25 balls against CSK. Additionally, this is his 50th IPL fifty.

Mar 29, 2026, 10:10 PM

The house has a vintage Rohit!

At one point, he was on 12 off eight, but Rohit Sharma lit up the Wankhede Stadium like only he can after he got a feel for the surface. Varun Chakravarthy is greeted by him with a beautiful loft over covers. He then helps him over square leg after lifting him clean over covers for six. Prior to this match, Rohit's strike rate against Varun was below 100. Tonight, that has changed.

Rohit hasn't finished yet. Then, as MI rushes to 80 for 0 in the powerplay, he targets impact player Kartik Tyagi, dismissing him for two sixes to get his fifty off 23 balls. Rahane had left the pitch earlier because of cramps. KKR is captained by Rinku.

The fifth and sixth overs

4 6 • 4 • 1 6 2 • 6 • 2

Mar 29, 2026, 10:00 PM

Rickelton and Rohit penalise KKR

Ryan Rickelton and Rohit Sharma have faced the KKR bowlers after two consistent overs. Before Rickelton deposits Vaibhav Arora for consecutive sixes, Rohit pulls Arora into the stands, a shot that is highly popular at Wankhede. Rohit retreats and scythes Muzarabani over deep backward point, giving MI their third straight six. It has been difficult to score on slower balls, but Rickelton and Rohit have both suffered when the tempo picks up.

Overs 3 and 4

• 6 1 • 6 6 6 1 1 1 61

Mar 29, 2026, 9:51 PM

Can MI perform at their highest level?

If they succeed, this will be MI's most successful chase in the IPL. Their highest score was 219 versus CSK in Delhi in 2021.

Mar 29, 2026, 9:41 PM

KKR's steady start

Kartik Tyagi has replaced Finn Allen as KKR's impact player. Vaibhav Arora gets off to a strong start, scoring just one boundary in his opening over thanks to an edge from Ryan Rickelton and a misfield by Blessing Muzarabani. After making his KKR debut, Muzarabani was hit for two fours, one of which was dangerously close to the leg stump. KKR had a respectable start, giving up 15 in the first two overs.

1 1 lb 4 • • • • • • • 4 1 4 •

Mar 29, 2026, 9:16 PM

Rahane and Raghuvanshi elevate KKR

Mumbai Indians vs. Kolkata Knight Riders 220 for 4 (Rahane 67, Raghuvanshi 51, Thakur 3-39)

Ajinkya Rahane remarked that he had "never seen so much of grass at Wankhede" during the toss. Given that Rahane has spent his whole cricket career at Wankhede Stadium, it was a significant joke. The skipper of the Kolkata Knight Riders, however, was unfazed by the additional grass and began his season with a spectacular 67 off 40 balls. Angkrish Raghuvanshi, another Mumbai boy, helped him out by scoring 51 off 29 as KKR defeated the Mumbai Indians to 220 for 4 in their first IPL 2026 match.

MI would consider themselves to have performed well despite the enormous total, especially after KKR had gathered 78 in the powerplay and reached 100 in 7.5 overs. On his MI debut, golden-arm Shardul Thakur claimed three wickets while Jasprit Bumrah did what he does best, giving up just 35 runs in his four overs.

Finn Allen made his debut for KKR instead of Tim Seifert, and the choice was confirmed when the opener smashed 37 off 17. Allen caught another rookie, AM Ghazanfar, and hit him for two sixes and a four after facing five dot balls against Hardik. After Rahane hit Hardik Pandya for consecutive sixes, Allen went 4, 4, 4, scoring 26 runs off Hardik's second over.

Thakur used his knowledge from playing a lot of cricket at his home state field, Wankhede Stadium, to hit with his second ball. Allen was able to scoop the ball as far as long-on despite its lesser speed of 117 kph.

Cameron Green became Thakur's second victim despite smashing Mayank Markande for a huge six. Rahane, on the other hand, kept up his good work and reached his fifty off 27 balls. However, Rahane mistimed a cross-seam length ball to Hardik at extra cover, and Thakur scored for the third time, cutting off even his knock.

MI was stringing some excellent overs when that wicket was taken. Raghuvanshi's innings took a turn for the better after Rohit Sharma dropped him at long-on. Together with Rinku Singh, who finished undefeated on 33 off 21 balls, he added 60 runs off 30 balls. KKR had already surpassed 200 by the time Raghuvanshi perished in the 19th over, just after hitting his fifty off 28 balls.

After their 232 at Eden Gardens in 2019, this is KKR's second-highest IPL score versus MI.

Mar 29, 2026, 9:02 PM

All eyes are on Rinku and Raghuvanshi.

After a poor start—17 off 14 at one point—Angkrish Raghuvanshi has increased his score, and he and Rinku Singh have helped KKR get back on track. Before Raghuvanshi ends the fifteenth over with a four and six, Rinku chases after Ghazanfar, cutting him through backward point. After Rinku retreats from Boult, the two amass 14 off Thakur's last over. KKR scored 49 from the next four overs after four excellent overs.

Ghazanfar gave up 51 runs on his IPL debut.

Mar 29, 2026, 8:54 PM

Rahane's disparity in strike rate

Rahane's strike rate was 200 on the powerplay, but it dropped to 140.9 afterward, a significant difference.

Mar 29, 2026, 8:46 PM

All across KKR, Thakur

Even though this is Shardul Thakur's first game for MI, he has already put out an excellent effort. Rahane, the dangerman, is now removed, falling for 67 off 40 balls. Rahane was hit by a cross-seam delivery from Thakur. Rahane tries to clear the infield over covers when he floats one on the fuller side outside off. However, Rahane mishandles the ball as it adheres to the surface, and Hardik makes a straightforward catch at extra cover.

Before the wicket over, MI had a few good overs, with Jasprit Bumrah giving up just five in his second over. He didn't let either batter get beneath the ball and continued to hammer those blockholes. After Rahane hit Ghazanfar for a six over midwicket earlier, MI started to regress. After being reintroduced into the assault, Boult let up just eight goals.

Between overs 10.1 and 14, KKR has only scored 30 runs. However, they continue to be over 10 and above.

6 2 2 0 1 lb 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 0 1 2 4 1 0 1 W 1 4 0

Mar 29, 2026, 8:24 PM

Rahane's fifty off 27 balls

Prior to this season, there were considerable doubts about Ajinkya Rahane. Is he the best person to take the lead? Is he competent enough to bat first? Is he able to maintain the current level of strike rates?

He seemed to have given elegant answers to each of these queries. Although it occasionally seems like Rahane is out of touch because he hasn't played international cricket in a long, he is actually in fairly good shape. Rahane scored 391 runs with a strike rate of 161.57 and 48.87 in 10 innings, making him Mumbai's top run scorer in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

And in the season opener, Rahane has once again shown that he is as good as anyone. reaches his fifty off of 27 balls. However, given Cameron Green's decline, he will need to monitor his post-powerplay strike rate.

Rahane's strike rate in the first six overs of the 2025 IPL was 187.40, and after that it was 110.94. Rahane scored at 200.00 in this match, but he has since slowed down a little. He must bat deep and long for KKR.

Mar 29, 2026, 8:11 PM

KKR in the first round

Rahane seemed to be unstoppable despite the wicket. In one of his two encounters with Thakur, he smashes a length ball outside off straight over the bowler's head after stroking a drive on the up over covers. Despite losing Allen, KKR has scored 78 points on the powerplay, so it's reasonable to conclude that the visiting team wins the opening game.

In the IPL, KKR's powerplay total of 78 runs against the Mumbai Indians is their greatest to date.

Mar 29, 2026, 8:02 PM

Shardul Thakur's golden arm strikes

In his home stadium, MI rookie Shardul Thakur has eliminated the dangerous Finn Allen with just two balls. He uses his extensive bowling experience at this location. begins his over with a slower short ball, which Rahane sheepishly pulls before Allen is hit by another slower ball. Allen only shovels this as far as long-on, and it was bowled at a mere 117 kph outside off. KKR has had a fierce start, but this is a timely blow, and the crowd goes crazy. This came after Jasprit Bumrah was hit for 11 runs in his opening over.

Mar 29, 2026, 7:52 PM

Devastation at the Wankhede

How Finn Allen would do in the IPL was the question that came up. Although he never played in the IPL, he was previously a member of RCB. But prior to the 2025 Indian Premier League, he was in excellent shape. In nine innings at the T20 World Cup, he struck at 200.00 and scored 298 runs at 49.66. He has also had a strong start to the IPL. He targets MI rookie AM Ghazanfar after five dot balls against Hardik. Pumped to the deep square fence, the spinner goes short. The subsequent ball is smashed for an 86-meter long-on six over wide. Then Allen pulls Ghazanfar over deep midwicket to end the over.

He's not finished yet. Rahane attacks Hardik first, hitting him for consecutive sixes. Hardik bowls fairly erratically, going down leg and getting penalised twice. After that, Allen strikes, going 4, 4, 4 once past deep square, once straight down the track, and then skilfully scooping past short fine leg. KKR surpasses fifty in 3.5 overs, their fastest time against MI in the IPL, after a massive 26-run over against Hardik.

In overs three and four, KKR scored forty-three runs.1• 4 6 • 6 6 6 1 lb 4 1w 4 4

Mar 29, 2026, 7:42 PM

Boult's first-over heroics

From the opening Boult over, there were two wides, a six, and a brace. He was a little off-kilter, once going down leg and once going well outside off, but he managed to find some swing. Rahane hoisted Boult over cow corner for a six in the middle of that. With just one four off the inside edge and five dots against Finn Allen, Pandya got off to a great start after receiving the new ball from the other end. The hard lengths that are probably going to be used this evening make the surface feel a bit faster than usual.

1w, 1w 6, 2, 4

Mar 29, 2026, 7:32 PM

Can Boult, the first over, strike once more?

Ajinkya Rahane and Finn Allen, the two KKR hitters, are out. In the IPL's opening over, Trent Boult has claimed 32 wickets. With 27, Bhuvneshwar Kumar comes in second, followed by Chahar and Praveen Kumar, each with 15. Once more, he has the fresh ball. Is Boult able to score again in the first over? Behind him is the Wankhede. Come on!

Mar 29, 2026, 7:24 PM

How will Wankhede's pitch perform?

lovely image. We are exactly in the center, 75 meters straight and 64 meters on either side. How about the twenty-two yards? "I think it is an absolute beauty," says Michael Clarke. Surprisingly, there is some grass on it. It was drier here the last time I visited. However, that will seamlessly hold the circumstances together. The fresh ball will give you that extra bounce, and the pace shift will be crucial.

Mar 29, 2026, 7:14 PM

Mumbai win the toss and bowl

Toss: The Mumbai Indians decide to bowl against the Kolkata Knight Riders

Hardik Pandya, the captain of the Mumbai Indians, won the toss and chose to bowl in their IPL 2026 opening match at Wankhede Stadium against the Kolkata Knight Riders without hesitation.

Along with Shardul Thakur and Sherfane Rutherford, who are both participating in their maiden games for the team, MI awarded debut caps to Afghanistan mystery spinner AM Ghazanfar. MI have gone with Ryan Rickelton over the experienced Quinton de Kock in their starting XI. Rickelton had a solid IPL 2025 for MI, finishing with 388 runs in 14 innings and MI have kept their faith in him. Trent Boult is the MI unit's fourth foreign player.

The fast bowling team will be led by Jasprit Bumrah, who will be accompanied by Boult and Shardul. The two spinners are Ghazanfar and Mayank Markande. Since he hasn't been included in the bowling first XI, Suryakumar Yadav will probably start as the Impact Player.

Hardik remarked, "Looks like a good track, looks a bit greener than it is used to, so let's see," during the toss. "We intend to amuse the audience because this is our stronghold and our territory. The boys have had plenty time to be ready because we started a few weeks ago."

Ajinkya Rahane, the captain of the KKR, added that he had "never seen so much of grass at Wankhede". KKR will start three foreign debutants: all-rounder Cameron Green, quick bowler Blessing Muzarabani, and Finn Allen, who was chosen over Tim Seifert and will begin the batting. The fourth overseas selection is the seasoned Sunil Narine. For the first time in the IPL, Angkrish Raghuvanshi will wear the wicketkeeping gloves. The Impact Player might be Kartik Tyagi.

Out of 35 games, MI has defeated KKR 24 times. Even better is their record at Wankhede Stadium, where MI leads 10-2, although KKR has a 2-1 head-to-head advantage since 2024.

Playing XIs

Mumbai Indians: 1 Rohit Sharma, 2 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 3 Tilak Varma, 4 Hardik Pandya (capt), 5 Sherfane Rutherford, 6 Naman Dhir, 7 Shardul Thakur, 8 Mayank Markande, 9 AM Ghazanfar, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Trent Boult

Impact Subs: Suryakumar Yadav, Corbin Bosch, Robin Minz, Raj Bawa, Ashwani Kumar

Kolkata Knight Riders: 1 Finn Allen, 2 Ajinkya Rahane (capt), 3 Cameron Green, 4 Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), 5 Rinku Singh, 6 Ramandeep Singh, 7 Anukul Roy, 8 Sunil Narine, 9 Vaibhav Arora, 10 Varun Chakravarthy, 11 Blessing Muzarabani

Impact subs: Manish Pandey, Tejasvi Singh, Kartik Tyagi, Saurabh Dubey, Rovman Powell