IPL 2026: Rohit Sharma shreds KKR as MI register a dominant six-wicket win

At the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday night, the Mumbai Indians finally exorcised a stubborn ghost. A 13-year wait for a winning opening to their IPL campaign ended with a vintage knock from Rohit Sharma and a coming-of-age statement from Ryan Rickelton, as the five-time champions outclassed the Kolkata Knight Riders in a high-scoring IPL 2026 clash.

Chasing 221, Mumbai Indians were off to a measured start before Rohit and Rickelton shifted gears. Rohit began cautiously, scoring 12 off his first eight balls, content to assess the conditions. Then came the shift. A short ball from Vaibhav Arora was picked up and dispatched into the stands, triggering a change in tempo. Soon after, Rohit backed away to carve Blessing Muzarabani over a deep backward point, forcing KKR to alter their plans.

At the other end, Rickelton wasted little time settling in. He took on Arora with back-to-back sixes, one lofted over extra cover and another whipped over deep midwicket. With pace on offer, both batters capitalised, and the powerplay decisively swung Mumbai's way.

Rohit's intent against Varun Chakravarthy stood out. He used his feet expertly, lofting him over covers, repeating the stroke, and then working him through square leg. The aggression was calculated and relentless. Rohit brought up his half-century off just 23 balls, the fastest of his IPL career and his 50th fifty in the tournament, as Mumbai raced to 80 without loss at the end of six overs.

Rickelton ensured the



momentum carried on even after the field spread. He attacked Sunil Narine, slog-sweeping him over deep midwicket before clearing the ropes twice more in quick succession. His 24-ball fifty took Mumbai past 100 inside nine overs, effectively taking the required rate out of the equation.

The opening stand had already put the result beyond serious doubt when Rohit Sharma fell for 78 off 38 balls. It took a sharp running catch from Anukul Roy off Vaibhav Arora to end a knock studded with six fours and six sixes. One of the standout moments was a lofted hit over deep extra cover, followed by a brief hold of the pose, a gesture that brought the Wankhede crowd to its feet.

With the platform firmly set, the Mumbai Indians kept control of the chase. Suryakumar Yadav, introduced as an impact substitute, began with a scoop over short fine leg before falling to Kartik Tyagi for 16 off 8 balls.

Rickelton missed out on a well-deserved hundred after a moment of sharp fielding brilliance. A firm stroke off a length ball found Anukul at long-off, and the South African set off for a risky second. Sent back halfway, he was briefly impeded while turning, allowing Anukul to fire in a direct hit from the deep. Ryan Rickelton, stranded short, departed for a well-made 81 off 43, an innings that had all but sealed the contest.

With the required rate down to seven, Hardik Pandya began confidently, and while Tilak Varma fell after a quick 20, MI completed the chase without much trouble.