Openers Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton hit blistering half-centuries to lead Mumbai Indians to a six-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders as they opened their IPL campaign in style on Sunday.
Chasing 221 for victory, five-time champions Mumbai rode a commanding 148-run opening stand from Rohit (78) and Rickelton (81) to reach their target with five balls to spare at the Wankhede Stadium.
Mumbai – the most successful team in the IPL along with fellow five-time winners Chennai Super Kings – won their opening match in the league for the first time since 2012.
Watch Live & Free coverage of the 2026 Marsh Sheffield Shield with Kayo Freebies | Register free now >
“It’s been a long wait – 13 years is a long time,” skipper Hardik Pandya said on breaking the opening game jinx.
“Very glad, the whole team is very glad that we were finally able to do it.”
Mumbai Indians’ Rohit Sharma. AP Photo/Rafiq MaqboolSource: AP
The 38-year-old Rohit, who plays just the 50-over format for India after retiring from Test and T20 internationals, hit six fours and six sixes in his 38-ball knock.
His batting blitz came a day after long-time international teammate Virat Kohli steered Royal Challengers Bengaluru to a big win in the tournament opener.
It needed a special effort to dismiss Rohit and Anukul Roy pulled off a stunning catch while running back from mid-on to finally dislodge the star batter.
South African wicketkeeper-batter Rickelton kept up the attack as he hit his eighth six after Rohit’s departure, continuing the pummelling of the Kolkata attack.
He was finally run out after a direct throw from Roy hit the stumps at the non-striker’s end.
Mumbai’s chase slowed down before Pandya, unbeaten on 18, and Tilak Varma, who made 20, helped the team get over the line.
“I thought 220-225 was a good total. We batted really well, but again, the inexperienced bowling attack,” Kolkata skipper Ajinkya Rahane said.
“Playing against Mumbai Indians, strong batting line-up, it’s really a learning curve for us.”
Pandya won the toss and invited three-time winners Kolkata to bat first amid a loud roar from the home Mumbai crowd.
Rahane and New Zealand’s Finn Allen handed Kolkata a blazing start and the team finished on 4-220.
Rahane went on to hit 67 off 40 balls after Allen fell for 37. Australian all-rounder Cameron Green, the most expensive overseas buy in IPL history, contributed 18, while he didn’t bowl.
Asked during the post-match presentation why Green didn’t bowl, Rahane responded: “The question you need to ask to Cricket Australia.”
Earlier this month, former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin argued the Knight Riders should consider slashing Green’s AU$4.17 million pay cheque if CA manages his bowling workload during the tournament.
“Will Cricket Australia allow him to bowl all four overs? That is also a possibility,” Ashwin said on YouTube.
“In this scenario, the Australian board is saying to Green that he can play in the IPL, but Test cricket is very important for us, so you can play only this much.
“IPL teams also should have an opportunity where if he bowls only two overs, then they should deduct 2 crores. Why not? If he is not able to deliver his four overs, then you should have the right to cut their money, right? When you came into the IPL auction, the expectation was that you will bowl all four overs, and also bat. If there is no restriction on bowling, then great, but if there is restriction the team should be allowed to cut from the contract money.”
Green has not scored a T20 fifty since July last year, averaging 18.80 in the game’s shortest format this summer. He registered for the IPL Auction as a specialist batter, but that was due to an managerial “stuff-up”.
“I’ll be good to bowl,” Green told reporters in December.
Rinku Singh’s unbeaten 33 off 21 balls gave Kolkata a late lift, but it wasn’t enough to challenge Mumbai.
Mumbai medium-pace bowler Shardul Thakur returned figures of 3-39 to be named player of the match, while Jasprit Bumrah finished wicketless but played a role in checking Kolkata’s scoring in the middle overs