Mumbai Indians defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 6 wickets in a high-scoring game at the Wankhede Stadium on March 29.
Mumbai Indians chased down a huge target of 221 runs in just 19.1 overs, ending their long wait for a winning start to the season.
KKR Post 220 After Strong Batting Display
Kolkata Knight Riders batted first and scored 220 for 4 in 20 overs. Ajinkya Rahane led from the front with 67 off 40 balls.
Finn Allen gave quick support with 37 off 17, helping KKR reach 78 for 1 in the powerplay. Young Angkrish Raghuvanshi added a solid 51 off 29 balls. His late hitting pushed the total past 220.
Shardul Thakur stood out for Mumbai Indians with 3 wickets for 39 runs. Jasprit Bumrah also bowled tight overs, giving away just 35 runs.
Rohit Sharma and Rickelton Dominate the Chase
Mumbai Indians got off to a dream start. Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton added 148 runs for the first wicket.
They reached 100 in only 8.1 overs, putting KKR under pressure early in the chase. Rohit scored a brilliant 78 off 38 balls, reaching his fifty in just 23 balls. He hit 6 fours and 6 sixes.
Rickelton continued the attack and top scored with 81 off 43 balls, smashing 8 sixes before getting run out.
Hardik Pandya Finishes the Job Calmly
After the openers got out, Mumbai lost a couple of quick wickets which created some tension.
But captain Hardik Pandya stayed calm and scored 18 not out off 11 balls. Naman Dhir played a key role at the end.
Dhir hit the winning boundary off Sunil Narine as Mumbai Indians finished at 224 for 4 with five balls remaining.
Key Records From Yesterday’s Match
- This win ended Mumbai Indians’ 13-year losing streak in IPL opening matches. Their last opening win came in 2012.
- It was also their highest successful run chase in IPL history.
- Shardul Thakur was named Player of the Match for his match-turning spell in the middle overs.