Mumbai Indians started their IPL 2026 campaign by breaking their long-standing jinx, their first since 2012. They won their first match of the season after a long wait of 13 seasons, and it was Rohit Sharma who led the charge against the Kolkata Knight Riders when they chased a massive 220+ total on their home ground at the Wankhede Stadium.
However, after the perfect start, Mumbai kept losing games in a row, as they lost four matches against opposition like the Delhi Capitals, the Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and the Punjab Kings. They compensated with a staggering win against the Gujarat Titans, but then failed to hold onto their momentum as they lost the next home match to rivals Chennai Super Kings.
Coming into their eighth game against the Sunrisers at their home ground, this match held immense importance for Mumbai, as winning would keep them in contention for a spot in the playoffs; otherwise, they were likely to be knocked out of the season.
Ryan Rickelton sets the tone for MI bowlers with an unbeaten hundred for MI
Winning ways have not been part of Mumbai’s tally in this season, as they have already lost five of their matches and are on the verge of losing their last chance to make it to the playoffs in this edition of the IPL.
With a disappointing wrist injury to Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton returned for the Mumbai Indians, while Will Jacks finally played his first game of the season. The two-handed MI had a stunning start in the power play, scoring at a very high rate.
With the solid start for the Mumbai Indians, Ryan Rickelton continued the onslaught and batted throughout the innings, finishing on a solid 123 off just 55 balls as he struck at 223.64 for his maiden century in the IPL.
With partnerships alongside Naman Dhir and Hardik Pandya, he took Mumbai off to a flyer and helped them post a massive 243 runs in the 20 overs.
Travis Head’s comeback, Heinrich Klaasen’s consistency handed SRH their fifth straight win in the season
Unlike all these games for Hyderabad so far in this season of the competition, Travis Head finally got himself going in this game against the Mumbai Indians on one of the best-suited batting tracks in India.
Abhishek Sharma handed them a quick start alongside Travis Head, the Australian opener who smashed a 30-ball 76 run to start the innings. Heinrich Klaasen finished the innings with a blasting 65 off just 30 balls.
Salil Arora returned with a convincing score as he finished the innings with 30 runs scored off the last 10 balls of the innings. The Sunrisers finished the fourth-highest chase in the history of the IPL with eight balls to spare in the innings.
I don’t think dew played much of a role- Hardik Pandya after the humiliating defeat
“I don’t think dew played much of a role, just that they played some good shots, we bowled some bad balls, they got to a flyer. I think we did pull it back, but it was not enough. Yes, I enjoyed, I had fun today on the ground,” Hardik Pandya claimed despite their loss at Wankhede.
Hardik Pandya continued, “Yeah, I think 244; I think I’ll back my bowlers to stop it, but some other day today we could not execute. Myself, really enjoyed bowling as well, barring the last three balls, but other than that, really enjoyed myself.”
“Yes, I think it’s been that kind of season. When you get a couple of chances, you grab them; that’s when the luck and momentum change. If you don’t, it kind of hurts you, but it’s still fine. All the boys tried really well. They gave everything; it did not work out.”
“I think as an overall unit, we have not been able to do what exactly Mumbai Indians stand for. We really need to see what all we need to work on, and it’s fine. I think we have passionate owners; we have passionate support staff. We always figure out something,” Hardik Pandya revealed about the team’s overall performance this season and their chances to bounce back.
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