KKR setup a decently high target for MI
Rohit Sharma wasn’t the only one who relished batting at home. Despite the Wankhede Stadium pitch appearing quite green, it played far better than expected. Ajinkya Rahane, alongside Finn Allen, gave KKR a blazing start, highlighted by a 26-run over off Hardik Pandya. Rahane led the charge with a fluent 67, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi recovered from a slow beginning to notch up a half-century as well.
Amid the heavy scoring, Shardul Thakur provided a bright spot for the bowlers on his MI debut. He struck at crucial moments, particularly using his slower balls effectively. By the end of the 11th over, KKR were scoring at nearly 12 runs per over. However, a brief slowdown followed between overs 12 and 14, where both Rahane and Raghuvanshi struggled to maintain momentum.
This dip was triggered largely by Jasprit Bumrah, whose precise yorkers shifted the game’s rhythm. The phase ended with Thakur dismissing Rahane in the 14th over. KKR managed only 19 runs in those three overs, a slowdown that likely cost them a stronger total despite still posting an imposing score.
Bumrah once again proved vital for MI, being the only bowler from either side to concede under nine runs per over. However, he wasn’t at his absolute best with execution, landing just 6 of his 17 attempted yorkers accurately and even bowling five full tosses. Elsewhere, Allen’s aggressive start punished debutant Allah Ghazanfar, who conceded 51 runs in four overs. Cameron Green made a quick 18 off 10 but didn’t bowl, raising questions, while Blessing Muzarabani struggled. In contrast, Thakur stood out among the pacers, while Sherfane Rutherford didn’t get a chance to bat in his debut appearance.
MI's opener duo chase it down
Even though the surface played true, MI still needed an explosive start to stay in the hunt—and their openers delivered exactly that. Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton came out with clear intent, immediately putting the KKR bowlers under pressure. The lack of early movement or variation from the attack allowed them to settle quickly, and once they found their rhythm, there was no holding them back.
Rohit, in particular, looked in sublime touch right from the outset. He set the tone with a signature pull shot off Vaibhav Arora, sending the ball soaring over midwicket. He then took on Varun Chakaravarthy with confidence, dispatching him for boundaries with elegant lofted drives through the off-side. His timing and shot selection stood out, as he mixed aggression with effortless placement.
The milestone came quickly, as Rohit raced to a 23-ball half-century—his fastest in IPL history—firmly shifting momentum in MI’s favor. At the other end, Rickelton complemented him perfectly, initially playing second fiddle before accelerating into an attacking groove of his own. His well-crafted 81 ensured that the pressure never eased on KKR, with the duo building a commanding partnership.
KKR, meanwhile, looked completely out of ideas with the ball. Their struggles were compounded when skipper Ajinkya Rahane had to leave the field early due to cramps, disrupting their on-field leadership. With misfields creeping in and bowlers unable to execute plans, MI capitalized fully, maintaining a high run rate and keeping the chase firmly under control throughout.
SCORECARD: Kolkata Knight Riders 220/4 in 20 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 67 (40), Angkrish Raghuvanshi 51 (29), Finn Allen 37 (17), Shardul Thakur 3-39) lost to Mumbai Indians 224/4 in 19.1 overs (Ryan Rickelton 81 (43), Rohit Sharma 78 (38), Tilak Varma 20 (14)) by 6 wickets