Summary of this article
Mumbai Indians defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets in match 2 of the IPL 2026
Hardik Pandya chose to bowl against KKR
Rohit, Rickelton hit fifties in the run-chase
Openers Ryan Rickelton and Rohit Sharma hit blistering half-centuries as Mumbai Indians finally won the opening fixture of the Indian Premier League by registering a six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL on Sunday with five balls remaining.
Rickelton scored 81 off 43 balls with eight sixes while Sharma hit 78 off 38, including six sixes, as MI scored 224-4 in 19.1 overs. It was also their highest run-chase at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in an Indian Premier League game.
Earlier, after losing the toss, KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane scored 67 off 40 balls, providing the base for his side’s challenging 220-4 in 20 overs. Angkrish Raghuvanshi hit 51 off 29 deliveries and Shardul Thakur picked up 3-39 for MI.
Chasing 221, Mumbai set a hectic pace – Rickelton and Sharma put on 148 runs off 71 balls for the first wicket, including 80-0 in the powerplay.
Former captain Rohit reached his 50 off 23 balls whereas his South African opening partner Rickelton reached his half century off 24 balls as KKR's pacers didn’t have any answers.
At 184/3, Mumbai Indians suffered a mini-hiccup but Tilak Varma (20) and Hardik Pandya (18 not out) made sure that the five-time champions won their opening game of the season – a first since the 2012 IPL season.
MI Vs KKR, IPL 2026: Toss Update
Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya has won the toss and has opted to field first against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium.
MI Vs KKR, IPL 2026: Playing XIs
Mumbai Indians: Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton(w), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya(c), Sherfane Rutherford, Naman Dhir, Shardul Thakur, Mayank Markande, AM Ghazanfar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah
Kolkata Knight Riders: Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane(c), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi(w), Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakaravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Blessing Muzarabani
