Mumbai Indians pulled off a sensational run chase to defeat Kolkata Knight Riders by 6 wickets in Match 2 of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium. Chasing a daunting target of 221, MI rode on explosive knocks from Ryan Rickelton and Rohit Sharma to seal the victory in just 19.1 overs, setting the tone for an electrifying season ahead.
KKR post mammoth total on the back of Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi
After being put into bat, Kolkata Knight Riders made full use of the batting-friendly conditions to post a formidable 220/4 in their 20 overs. Ajinkya Rahane led the charge with a commanding 67 off 40 balls, showcasing a blend of elegance and aggression with five sixes. Finn Allen provided a fiery start, smashing 37 off just 17 deliveries, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi impressed with a fluent 51 off 29 balls.
Rinku Singh also chipped in with a valuable 33, ensuring KKR maintained momentum throughout the innings. Despite the onslaught, Shardul Thakur stood out for Mumbai Indians with the ball, claiming 3 crucial wickets, while the rest of the bowling attack struggled to contain the run flow.
Ryan Rickelton, Rohit Sharma dominate in record chase
In response, Mumbai Indians came out all guns blazing. Rickelton played a breathtaking knock of 81 off 43 balls, hammering eight sixes to keep MI ahead of the required rate. Rohit complemented him perfectly, scoring 78 off 38 balls with a mix of elegant strokes and powerful hits.
The duo’s opening partnership laid the perfect foundation for the chase, dismantling the KKR bowling attack with ease. Even after their departures, brief but impactful contributions from Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Hardik Pandya ensured there were no hiccups in the chase.
Kolkata’s bowlers had a tough outing as none could effectively apply the brakes on Mumbai’s aggressive batting. Vaibhav Arora and Kartik Tyagi picked up a wicket each but were expensive, while Sunil Narine managed one scalp. However, the lack of breakthroughs during the powerplay proved costly as MI surged ahead early in the innings.
Also WATCH: Shardul Thakur’s slower ball masterclass dismisses Finn Allen in MI vs KKR IPL 2026 clash
Here’s how fans reacted:
What a way to start the season! Rohit Sharma reaches 550 T20 sixes in style—the first Asian player to achieve this incredible milestone. Absolute dominance at the Wankhede. 🇮🇳🙌 pic.twitter.com/ONs8dUwzlx
— saify (@SohamP40898) March 29, 2026
Rohit Sharma to KKR bowlers :pic.twitter.com/1OdTU72YEg https://t.co/UjibttFvH7
— 🏏 (@NaaniHolic) March 29, 2026
𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗞𝗡𝗢𝗖𝗞 – 78 from 38! 🔥 #Rohit Sharma pic.twitter.com/EsftBxgzrX
— Mr. Ak (@Mr_Ak_India) March 29, 2026
bRo single-handedly did it for Mumbai Indians..something they hadn’t been able to do for the last 14 years.
Rohit Sharma 🙌🫡🐐 pic.twitter.com/wxQoeeLQON
— Jyran (@Jyran45) March 29, 2026
Rohit Sharma vs KKR: Rohit now holds the record for the most runs against a single opponent in the IPL with 1,161 runs against KKR.
Hitman show 🔥 #MIvsKKR— Venkat_OG (@WashiYoWashi__5) March 29, 2026
Most Runs Against a Team in IPL
1160 runs – 𝗥𝗼𝗵𝗶𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗮 v KKR*
1159 runs – Virat Kohli v PBKS
1146 runs – Virat Kohli v CSK
1134 runs – David Warner v PBKS
1130 runs – Virat Kohli v DC
1093 runs – Warner v KKR
1057 runs – Shikhar Dhawan v CSK
1057 runs – Rohit v DC pic.twitter.com/OGkZtJ0evp— Niraj Kumar Kushwaha (@Nirajku11362609) March 29, 2026
Rohit Sharma has reinvented himself late in his career.
His renewed focus on fitness is evident.
At 38, he recorded his fastest IPL half‑century.
A shining example of clarity, perseverance, and excellence.”@ImRo45 @mipaltan#MIvsKKR #IPL2026— 🇮🇳 अहमद जी 🇮🇳 (@Ahmed992727) March 29, 2026
Current Orange Cap holder: Sir Ryan David Rickelton 👑#MIvKKR #MIvsKKR pic.twitter.com/eZp0tivG5S
— Dave (ARTETA OUT) (@AFC_Dev17) March 29, 2026
🚨 MI Chase 221 in Thriller
Mumbai Indians pulled off a stunning 221 chase against KKR at Wankhede. Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton led the charge as MI sealed the win with 5 balls to spare. Mumbai also registered their first opening match win after 14 years 🤍💙#MIvsKKR #IPL pic.twitter.com/lfjBea42in
— Atharva (@Atharva_0764) March 29, 2026
The hero’s of Mumbai Indians …..
Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton ……. pic.twitter.com/WzuDF4iNja
— Bad Boy (@Badboycric) March 29, 2026
