Anjana Sasi, News Editor (Sports)
Mumbai Indians chase 220 to beat KKR at Wankhede and end long-standing opening match losing streak
Mumbai: Some wins simply add two points to the table. And then there are nights like these, when a team quietly sheds a piece of its past. At the Wankhede Stadium, under familiar lights and roaring voices, Mumbai Indians finally broke a pattern that had lingered for 13 long years: winning their first match of an IPL season.
The last time it happened was back in 2013, against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. A season that would go on to become one of Mumbai’s most iconic, ending in a title. Since then, every new campaign has begun with a stumble, an odd inconsistency for a franchise that would go on to dominate the league in phases until now.
On a blessed Palm Sunday night, against Kolkata Knight Riders, the narrative shifted. Mumbai Indians put on a great show, chasing down a tough total to beat Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets and finally break their long-standing opening match jinx. The match was not only about starting strong, it was also about breaking a habit that had quietly followed them across seasons. And perhaps fittingly, it happened at home, at the Wankhede, where Mumbai’s identity feels most complete.
Kolkata set the tone early by scoring 220/4 in their 20 overs. Captain Ajinkya Rahane anchored the innings with a smooth half-century, and young Angkrish Raghuvanshi added flair with a quick fifty, making sure KKR kept up a high scoring rate throughout. Their powerplay surge and steady middle overs acceleration put Mumbai under a lot of pressure right away.
But what happened next was one of the best chases of the season. Mumbai didn’t rush or force the game; they controlled it. Mumbai’s answer was based on a wonderful opening partnership between Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton. The two came out with a plan, racing to 80 without losing any wickets in the powerplay and breaking up KKR’s bowling plans early on. Rohit’s 78 runs off 38 balls and Rickelton’s 81 runs off 43 balls set up a nearly perfect base, changing what looked like a difficult chase into a controlled one.
From the outset, there was a noticeable clarity in approach. Their batting carried intent without carelessness, building momentum in phases rather than chasing it in bursts. Even when wickets fell in the second half, Mumbai never lost control of the game. The middle order, with quick runs from Hardik Pandya and others, made sure there were no problems at the end. The chase ended in 19.1 overs, with five balls left. This was a clear end to a high-scoring game.
Kolkata, as usual, threatened in patches. They found small windows of time when the contest seemed to be going their way. But this time, Mumbai was different. They were calm and collected, and maybe they understood more about what this game meant than just the score.
Because the game was never just about winning against the other team. It was about rewriting the first chapter, which had started on the wrong note for too long.
In a tournament as intense as the Indian Premier League, the start of the game is crucial. It shapes beliefs, sets the mood, and sometimes determines the memory of a season. This wasn’t just a win for Mumbai; it was a sign. A change in tone. A quiet hint that this campaign might go in a different direction.
There’s also something poetic about the timing. The last time Mumbai won their opening game, they went on to lift the trophy. Superstitions don’t win tournaments, but they do linger in dressing rooms, in fan conversations, in the subconscious rhythm of a team. Now, that old memory has been stirred again.
It’s not clear yet if this season will go the same way. But for at least one night, the Mumbai Indians did more than just win. Mumbai Indians didn’t just chase down a total in a game full of big hits and swings in momentum; they chased down history.
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