Rickelton, Rohit and Thakur break Mumbai's first-game jinx
MI win their first game of an IPL season for the first time since 2012
MI win their first game of an IPL season for the first time since 2012
Scorer: Sudeep Poojar | Commentator: Abhimanyu Bose
11.40pm Right then, two games into the IPL. Two 200-plus chases made to look easy. The marker has been laid down for the direction the competition looks to be headed in. Bowlers know they are going to have to find ways in difficult conditions for them. Batters know they have to go harder than before to get their teams to totals the bowlers can defend. Mumbai Indians begin their campaign with a win for the first time since before they won their first championship, pulling off not just their highest IPL chase but also the highest IPL chase at the Wankhede. KKR have lessons they need to learn and apply. MI know they have to keep up this kind of form and momentum. For tonight, that's all from us at ESPNcricinfo. On behalf of Shashank, Sudeep and everyone else here, it's Abhimanyu signing off.
11.30pm Time for the presentation ceremony.
And the POTM is Shardul Thakur: "[What keeps you going on such batting decks?] I've said this before also, I like challenges. This was a challenging situation, especially sixth over. Because you expect Boult or Bumrah to get early wickets, but didn't happen. So it was challenging coming in and bowling that sixth over. Challenges are what have made me. This ground has given me bitter and sweet memories both. To come and play for MI is special. To come and play on my home ground. I was a net bowler and upcoming boy in the early years, quietly making my mark. Since then it was always going to happen, and it's finally happened. So it feels special. I'll be very happy if I stay here [for my career]. It's my home city. The kind of backing I have got here is amazing. To trade me from LSG and playing me first game. [On the Lord memes] I like them because people give that name with love. So it's not really a 'meme' meme. Just a way for people to show love.'
Hardik Pandya: "Obviously it's been a long wait [to win the season opener]. Everytime we've come we wanted to start the season on a high. The whole group is very glad we were able to do it. [On chasing big totals now] Modern cricket, plus we've seen what this wicket plays like. Credit to the bowlers, not letting KKR fly away to 240s or 250s. Those become tough targets but 220 is always chaseable. Rohit and Rickelton were outstanding. [On picking between Ricks and QDK] Ryan has done very well for us last year. And Quinny is a top man. He understood that we are backing the man, and having continuity. Glad it worked. Whenever I see Ro play some shots, it opens everyone's mouth. Nothing short of excellent, nothing short of outstanding. [On Thakur] I told him, enough hopping franchises. You have to be here for the rest of your career. The way he outsmarts batters, the way he bowls, brilliant."
Ryan Rickelton: "[The knock feels] Pretty good. Didn't have the best week's preparation coming into this but finding the middle of the bat felt pretty special. [On the run out] I thought Tilak said yes, but I didn't hear him clearly. And i was a bit lazy, couldn't crawl back. Not Blessing's fault, he was just trying to get the ball. Wasn't in rhythm coming into the game, but I like to think I am old enough to know my game. Obviously, I felt that pressure and weight of having Quinny behind me. It was good to get the start. I felt the pressure, but I want to be able to play more freely. He's also very helpful. We're close and spend a lot of time together. He knows my game really well as well. Really nice to just be in the change room with him."
Ajinkya Rahane: "Feeling okay but lot of cramps, especially my calves. Hopefully I'll be okay. It was really tough [for bowlers] Inexperienced bowling attack, but these boys will learn. Strong batting lineup. So it's a learning curve. I thought MI batted well. So our bowlers will definitely learn. [On playing the way at his age] I'm still young, KP [Kevin Pietersen]. But yeah really happy with the way I am batting in the moment. Hopefully Green starts to bowl soon and the combination will be slightly different. We batted really well but finding that balance with the ball is really important. [On why Green can't bowl] That question you need to ask Cricket Australia. [On positives] We batted well and I thought Kartik Tyagi bowled well. Played after a while but he was really good. Lot of positives and long way to go."
11.15pm Mumbai Indians, thanks to a dynamite opening stand, have made a 221 chase look oh so easy! Rohit Sharma batted as well as I've seen him do. Ryan Rickelton put in a statement knock after MI put the faith in him over Quinton de Kock. And then SKY, Tilak and Hardik Pandya all played neat cameos to ensure they never looked in trouble even as they were gunning for a total they'd never chased before. For KKR, their bowling vulnerabilities have been put on full display in their first game, although they will take solace in that performance from Kartik Tyagi. Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi hit fifties, while Finn Allen also gave them a great start. But Bumrah and Boult's yorker barrage slowed them down in the middle, and in the end the 10-15 runs they may feel they left out there in the middle came back to haunt them.
Naman Dhir the new batter in
Shiva had shared this stat a while back which I'd missed out on: Varun Chakravarthy has gone for 273 runs from 23 overs in his last six T20s. His economy of 11.86 in these games is the worst for a spinner to have bowled at least 120 balls in six successive matches in all T20s.
NT Tilak Varma c sub (MK Pandey) b Narine 20 (25m 14b 4x4 0x6) SR: 142.85
Now a one-format player in international cricket, he looked in pristine touch as he scored his fastest-ever IPL fifty against Kolkata Knight Riders
KKR captain feels Green's unavailability is a challenge but framed it as an opportunity for other bowlers
Shardul Thakur impressed on his MI debut, taking 3 for 39
KKR also had three debutants in Finn Allen, Blessing Muzarabani and Cameron Green
Against MI, KKR slowed down in the middle overs, which cost them the game - an issue that dogged them through 2025