Mumbai Indians ended a 13-edition hoodoo in their opening match, chasing down Kolkata Knight Riders’ 220 and winning by six wickets in Mumbai on March 29 as Rohit Sharma (78) and Ryan Rickelton (81) put on a match-defining show. Five-time champions MI reached 224 for 4 in 19.1 overs to secure the two points after a chase that never looked in doubt once the Rohit–Rickelton partnership took charge.
Playing his first T20 since the last IPL, Rohit struck a crisp 38-ball 78, featuring six sixes and six fours, while Rickelton counterpunched with an 81 off 43 deliveries, including eight sixes and four fours. The pair added 148 off 72 balls to put Mumbai firmly in control before a moment of fielding brilliance from Anukul Roy ended their stand. Hardik Pandya (18 not out) and Naman Dhir (5 not out) saw MI home.
Kolkata had set a challenging platform on a placid wicket, finishing on 220 for 4 courtesy of Ajinkya Rahane’s 67 and Angkrish Raghuvanshi’s 51. Shardul Thakur picked up key wickets for Mumbai, finishing with 3 for 39, while senior pacers Trent Boult (0/38) and Jasprit Bumrah (0/35) were unable to claim scalps, although Bumrah’s 18th and 20th overs helped stop KKR from pushing toward 250.
KKR began brightly: Rahane opened with an exquisitely timed six off Boult and Finn Allen exploded with 37 off 17 balls, including big hits off debutant Allah Ghazanfar. Mumbai’s Arshad Pandya conceded 26 in the fourth over, swinging momentum toward KKR early, and the visitors were 78 for 1 after the powerplay (the first six overs). Thakur’s two incisive spells later checked that momentum and prevented the middle order from accelerating further.
Rohit’s range of shots-dancing down the track to loft short deliveries and his trademark drives over cover-combined with Rickelton’s aggressive targeting of KKR’s spin duo to clear the leg-side ropes, made the difference. The win ends Mumbai’s long run of opening-day defeats (they had not won their first match of an IPL season since beating Chennai Super Kings in 2012) and gives them an encouraging start to the campaign. (PTI)
Brief scores: Kolkata Knight Riders 220 for 4 in 20 overs (Ajinkya Rahane 67, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 51; Shardul Thakur 3/39). Mumbai Indians 224 for 4 in 19.1 overs (Ryan Rickelton 81, Rohit Sharma 78; Sunil Narine 1/30).
Original Source: https://theshillongtimes.com/2026/03/30/rohit-rickeltons-fifties-power-mi-to-6-wicket-win-over-kkr/
Category: SPORTS
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Publish Date: 2026-03-30 07:06:00
