Mumbai Indians ended a 13-year streak of losing their first IPL match with a composed win over Kolkata Knight Riders, by Rohit Sharma,and a crucial push from Rickelton.
Mumbai: It took 13 years, but Mumbai Indians finally managed to get their first game right.
Since 2013, the five-time champions had made a habit of stumbling at the very start of every IPL season. It had become one of those strange records no team wants—but on March 29, against Kolkata Knight Riders, that run came to an end.
And it didn’t happen by chance. It was built patiently.
Rohit Sharma’s approach at the top set the tone. Instead of playing catch-up, he ensured Mumbai stayed ahead of the game early. There were no risky shots, just clean timing and awareness of the field. At the other end, Virat Kohli did what he does best—kept the innings together. He rotated strike, absorbed pressure, and made sure there was no collapse in the middle overs.
That phase, in fact, has often hurt Mumbai in past openers.
This time, the difference came in how they handled it.
Ryan Rickelton’s short but impactful stay ensured the scoring didn’t dip when KKR tried to tighten things. He attacked selectively, especially against spin, which forced Kolkata to rethink their plans.
KKR weren’t far off. Their total was competitive, and at stages, they looked in control. But they couldn’t build sustained pressure. A few loose overs and missed opportunities in the field allowed Mumbai to stay on track.
More than the result, it was the manner of the win that stood out.There was no scramble, no last-over drama—just a team playing like it knew exactly what it was doing.
For Mumbai Indians, that might be the biggest takeaway.
