Kolkata Knight Riders 220 for 4 (Rahane 67, Raghuvanshi 51, Thakur 3-39) vs Mumbai Indians
Ajinkya Rahane said at the toss that he has “never seen so much of grass at Wankhede”. It was an important comment as Rahane has played cricket at the Wankhede Stadium all his career. But that extra grass didn’t deter the Kolkata Knight Riders captain as he smashed 67 off 40 balls, starting his season in style. He got support from another Mumbai lad Angkrish Raghuvanshi, who scored 51 off 29 as KKR powered to 220 for 4 in their opening game of IPL 2026 against Mumbai Indians.
Despite the tall total, MI would feel they have done well, particularly after KKR had amassed 78 in the powerplay and reached 100 in 7.5 overs. Golden-arm Shardul Thakur, on MI debut, picked up three wickets while Jasprit Bumrah did Jasprit Bumrah things, conceding just 35 runs in his four overs.
KKR gave Finn Allen a debut ahead of Tim Seifert and the decision was vindicated with the opener smashing 37 off 17. After facing five dot balls against Hardik, Allen caught hold of another debutant AM Ghazanfar, taking him for two sixes and a four. Rahane then took on Hardik Pandya, smashing him for back-to-back sixes before Allen went 4, 4, 4 taking 26 runs off Hardik’s second over.
Having played plenty of cricket at the Wankhede Stadium, his domestic home ground, Thakur brought his experience into play and struck with his second ball. It was a slower 117kph length ball outside off that Allen could shovel as far as long-on.
Cameron Green smashed Mayank Markande for a massive six but became Thakur’s second victim. Rahane, however, continued on his merry way, bringing up his fifty off 27 balls. But even his knock was cut short by Thakur, who struck for a third time when Rahane mistimed a cross-seam length ball to Hardik at extra cover.
More to follow…