© instagram.com/mumbaiindiansMumbai Indians registered a six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in their opening match of the Indian Premier League 2026, successfully chasing a target of 221 at the Wankhede Stadium.
The chase was anchored by Rohit Sharma, who scored 78 off 38 balls, and Ryan Rickelton, who made 81 off 41 deliveries. The pair put together a rapid opening stand, taking Mumbai to 135 without loss in 11 overs and setting the tone for the pursuit.
Both batters reached their half-centuries at a brisk pace, with Rohit getting there in 23 balls and Rickelton in 24. Rohit was eventually dismissed by Vaibhav Arora, but the early momentum left Mumbai in control of the chase.
Kolkata attempted a comeback when Kartik Tyagi removed Suryakumar Yadav for 16, and Rickelton was run out after his 81. However, with the required rate under control, captain Hardik Pandya and Naman Dhir guided Mumbai home in 19.1 overs.
Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders posted 220 for 4 after being put in to bat.
© instagram.com/kkridersAjinkya Rahane led the innings with 67 off 40 balls, hitting three fours and five sixes. Finn Allen provided a quick start with 37 off 17 balls, while Rinku Singh remained unbeaten on 33.
Kolkata raced to 78 for 1 in the powerplay and crossed 120 for 2 at the halfway mark. Rahane reached his fifty in 27 deliveries before being dismissed by Shardul Thakur, who finished with figures of 3 for 39.
Angkrish Raghuvanshi added 51 off 29 balls, sharing a 50-run stand with Rinku Singh to push Kolkata close to the 200 mark. Hardik Pandya removed Raghuvanshi late in the innings, but Kolkata still managed to post a challenging total.
Despite the strong total, Mumbai’s aggressive start ensured the target was chased down comfortably, marking one of the highest successful run chases in the league’s history.
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