After two intense clashes, IPL 2026 is set for another high-voltage encounter, as Rajasthan Royals (RR) lock horns with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on Monday at the Assam Cricket Association Stadium in Guwahati. Ahead of the contest, the Royals will be high on confidence, with newly appointed skipper Riyan Parag leading from the front alongside explosive hitters Yashasvi Jaiswal, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Shimron Hetmyer, adding firepower to their batting. On the other hand, the Super Kings will enter the clash on the back of multiple injuries. Veteran wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni will not participate in the initial phase of the tournament as he is recovering from a calf strain. Adding to CSK's woes, stylish batsman Dewald Brevis will also miss the first clash due to side strain. With the absence of two important players, CSK has found itself in deep trouble. The side will heavily rely on their skipper, Ruturaj Gaikwad, new addition Sanju Samson, and Sarfaraz Khan. It will also be interesting to see if the players from both sides manage to deliver big performances against their former teams. Samson, who earlier led RR in the league, will now take the field, donning the yellow jersey. Additionally, considering the absence of Dhoni, he will likely take over the wicket-keeping duties. In Rajasthan's dugout, star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja will line up against his former team, Chennai. IPL 2026, Chennai Super Kings vs Rajasthan Royals: Full Squads Chennai Super Kings: Ruturaj Gaikwad (C), MS Dhoni (WK), Sanju Samson (WK), Dewald Brevis, Ayush Mhatre, Kartik Sharma, Sarfaraz Khan, Urvil Patel, Anshul Kamboj, Jamie Overton, Ramakrishna Ghosh, Prashant Veer, Matthew Short, Aman Khan, Zak Foulkes, Shivam Dube, Khaleel Ahmed, Noor Ahmad, Mukesh Choudhary, Nathan Ellis, Shreyas Gopal, Gurjapneet Singh, Akeal Hosein, Matt Henry, Rahul Chahar. Rajasthan Royals: Ravindra Jadeja, Sandeep Sharma, Adam Milne, Donovan Ferreira (WK), Jofra Archer, Shimron Hetmyer, Tushar Deshpande, Sam Curran, Nandre Burger, Riyan Parag (C), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Kuldeep Sen, Ravi Bishnoi, Dhruv Jurel (WK), Sushant Mishra, Yudhvir Singh, Shubham Dubey, Vignesh Puthur, Aman Rao, Kwena Maphaka, Yash Punja, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ravi Singh (WK), Brijesh Sharma.
30 March,2026 04:07 PM IST | Mumbai | Sujay ShivalkarIn the IPL 2026 match against the Mumbai Indians (MI), the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) suffered a loss by six wickets at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. During the match, KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane played a stunning knock of 67 runs off 40 deliveries, which was laced with three boundaries and five maximums. Speaking about his knock, the right-handed batsman expressed happiness with the kind of cricket he is playing and said that he is not here to prove anything to the naysayers. "Let people talk about me. They have been talking about me since like what, 20 years now. Let them talk. I am really happy with the way I am batting at the moment. I am not here to show anyone how talented I am and what's my game. People are watching. Let them watch. Let them talk," he said. "But I am really happy, in the last 2-3 years, (in the) white ball formats (with) the way I have improved my game. It's important to grow as a cricketer, as a batsman, and that's what I am trying to do. People will keep talking and let them talk," added Rahane. He then spoke about the cramps that he suffered during the game. "I was just cramping. It's a very bad feeling to sit outside with the cramps and you don't have any control when the bowlers were bowling, it's a bad feeling but first I'm really happy the way I batted," said the skipper. Following the cramps, he was forced to leave the field, and in his absence, Rinku Singh took over the leadership for the match. Mumbai Indians' Shardul Thakur was named the "Player of the Match". Having completed his quota of four overs, he claimed three wickets by conceding 39 runs. IPL 2026: Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians' upcoming matches KKR will now lock horns with Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) on April 2 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. On the other hand, the "Paltan" will travel to Delhi to play the clash against the Delhi Capitals on April 4 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. (With PTI Inputs)
30 March,2026 02:47 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentKolkata Knight Riders (KKR) Captain Ajinkya Rahane addressed a question regarding Cameron Green after the all-rounder did not bowl in the match against the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 match on Sunday. Notably, KKR lost by six wickets despite scoring 220/4. During the post-match presentation, when asked why Green didn't bowl, Rahane responded that the question should be asked to Cricket Australia. "That question you need to ask Cricket Australia," Ajinkya Rahane said. Green, who was signed by KKR for a record Rs 25.20 crore, contributed a quick 18 off 10 balls with the bat, but didn't deliver any overs. Rahane said it was a tough match for KKR's inexperienced bowling attack and also praised his own batting. He also highlighted Kartik Tyagi's performance with the ball. Rahane expressed hope that Green bowls will soon improve team balance, calling the game a learning experience with many positives. "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. 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. 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," Rahane said. Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya, on the other hand, said the team was happy to finally win their season opener for the first time since the 2012 edition and credited the bowlers for keeping the target manageable, noting that while very high scores are tough to chase, 220 runs is achievable. "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," Pandya said during the post-match presentation. Pandya praised Rohit and Rickelton for their exceptional batting and also lauded Shardul Thakur's smart bowling. Pandya jokingly said that he told Thakur to stay with the franchise for the rest of his career. "Rohit and Rickelton were outstanding. Whenever I see Ro (Rohit) 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," Pandya said. Coming to the match, Mumbai chased down a formidable target of 221 to defeat KKR in the second match of IPL 2026. The chase required something special, and Mumbai's openers delivered exactly that. Rohit Sharma (78 runs off 38 balls), along with Rickelton (81 runs off 41 balls), played a fantastic knock as they registered their biggest run-chase in IPL history and also won their first season-opener since the 2012 edition of the IPL. Kartik Tyagi (1/43 in 4 overs), Sunil Narine (1/30 in 3 overs) and Vaibhav Arora (1/52 in 4 overs) were the only wicket-takers for KKR. Earlier, KKR delivered a good batting performance against MI after being asked to bat first, posting a formidable total of 220/4 Led by a scintillating half-century from captain Ajinkya Rahane (67 off 40 deliveries, including three fours and five towering sixes) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (51 off 29 balls, with six fours and two sixes). Apart from them, crucial contributions from Finn Allen (17-ball 37, including six fours and two sixes) and Rinku Singh, who stayed unbeaten on 33 off 21 balls, with four fours, helped KKR set up a challenging target despite a three-wicket haul by speedster Shardul Thakur. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
30 March,2026 01:22 PM IST | Mumbai | ANIShardul Thakur, who was a net bowler for the Mumbai Indians in their early years, celebrated his first match for the franchise with a three-wicket haul that helped them beat the Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets at the Wankhede Stadium. Thakur has played for the Kings XI Punjab, Rising Pune Supergiants, Delhi Capitals, Kolkata Knight Riders, Chennai Suoer Kings and Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL before being brought to his home town franchise after a swap deal with LSG. On Sunday, he justified that faith by claiming 3-39 that halted a rampaging KKR innings and helped MI restrict them to 220/4 in 20 overs. Rohit Sharma (78) and Ryan Rickelton (81) struck blazing half-centuries to help the Mumbai Indians romp to a six-wicket win against KKR in Match 2 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026, ending their embarrassing streak of not winning their opening match in 13 seasons. Thakur, who was named Player of the Match for his effort, said he likes to take up challenges, and Sunday presented such a situation. "I've said this before, I like challenges. This was a challenging situation, especially in the sixth over. Because you expect Boult or Bumrah to get early wickets, but that 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 both bitter and sweet memories," said Thakur in the post-match presentation. He said that playing for the Mumbai Indians is special for him as it allows him to play at his home ground. "To come and play for MI is special. To come and play on my home ground. I was a net bowler and an 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 play me in my first game," he said. Thakur, who is nicknamed Lord and has become a subject for many memes on the social media, said he does not mind the attention he gets on the net. "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," he added. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
30 March,2026 12:50 PM IST | Mumbai | IANSPunjab Kings skipper Shreyas Iyer showcased his football skills in a video recently Instagrammed by PBKS, where he is seen juggling a football 87 times, without letting it touch the floor. His skills should come as no surprise as Iyer’s alma mater is Don Bosco HS, Matunga, which is known to boss age-group football competitions. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Punjab Kings (@punjabkingsipl)
30 March,2026 10:41 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentChennai Super Kings batting coach Michael Hussey, who once shared the dressing room with MS Dhoni and now works alongside him, believes that the veteran wicketkeeper-batter’s greatest strength lies not in experience alone, but in his refusal to stand still. At 44 and deep into a legendary T20 career, Dhoni continues to defy the passage of time not just with his presence, but with an unrelenting desire to evolve, a trait that still shapes the culture of CSK. Even after years of success and a return from a competitive break, Dhoni remains deeply invested in fine-tuning his game, engaging in detailed conversations, exploring subtle technical adjustments, and constantly searching for marginal gains. It is this rare blend of instinct and curiosity, Hussey revealed, that continues to set Dhoni apart in a league increasingly dominated by youth and power-hitting. “He knows his game so well. So we don't have to have a lot of conversations. But one thing I've really admired about MS over the years, and probably talks to his longevity, is that he's always looking to improve or just sort of improve his game a little bit all the time. And the conversations we've been having are just around little adjustments. “Whether it's a little bit of a foot movement here or a little bit of a swing change here. But he has a great feel for the game. So it's more just him bouncing different ideas off. But I think deep down he knows what the right answers are most of the time anyway. So he's awesome to work with, and what a legendary player he's been for such a long time,” Hussey said in a video shared by the franchise. Hussey, who has seamlessly transitioned from a decorated player to a key member of CSK’s coaching setup, spoke enthusiastically about his current role, particularly the opportunity to shape emerging talent. “I absolutely love it. It's a fantastic experience to be able to work with different players from all around the world, whether they're West Indians, Kiwis, South Africans, and of course, lots of Indians as well. I'm particularly enjoying this year, because we've got a few younger players, new to the team, not that experienced yet, so to be able to sit with them, talk to them about how they see the game, work with their game, not just for this season, but hopefully for the rest of their careers, is really exciting,” Hussey said. This season marks a subtle shift in CSK’s traditional template, from a core of seasoned campaigners to a more dynamic mix featuring youth and explosiveness. Hussey highlighted the refreshing attitude of younger players like Karthik Sharma and Ayush Mathre, noting their ability to embrace the IPL stage without intimidation. “I'm just loving their fearless attitude towards the game. You know, they're not daunted by the bright lights of the IPL, the big crowds, you know, who they're playing against, you know, some of these world-class bowlers from around the world. You know, they're excited for the opportunity to get out there,” Hussey stated. At the same time, he acknowledged the practical challenges of integrating a diverse group. “Sometimes the language barrier is challenging, and so we need to speak very slowly, or sometimes need to get someone to come in and interpret our conversations to make sure they're fully understanding each other,” he added. What excites Hussey most, however, is the balance within the squad, pairing youth with experience across the batting order. “I'm really looking forward. What I'm excited about with this batting order that we've got is we have got a nice blend of experience and youth. So, yeah, it's going to be exciting for the future. But also, I feel as though having, you know, experienced players like Rutu and Sanju Samson, Dubey, MSD, of course, some overseas players like Abrevis in there as well, will offer a lot of help as well to these younger players. We can have some experience with a youngster, experience with a youngster all the way down, and I think that'll help their development as players as well,” he mentioned. As T20 cricket continues to evolve into a high-scoring spectacle, Hussey made it clear that CSK’s approach remains grounded in clarity rather than chasing arbitrary targets. “We don't like to put any targets in place or ceilings on what they, you know, should be trying to get to or whatever, because I think sometimes that can cloud the player's mind. For me, it's about trying to help the player learn about adapting to the situation, adapting to the conditions. What does the team need now? And then they've all got the shots. They've been playing such aggressive shots since they were young, young players. They've been growing up watching T20 cricket, so they've already got that natural sort of attacking ability in their game,” Hussey said. Instead, the emphasis is on situational awareness, blending aggression with game sense. “But then it's about, okay, what's the situation need now? There might be times when we need to go really hard and try and get the score up as high as possible, but there might be a time when we need to be a little bit smarter and just work the ball and get through a good spell, or if the pitch isn't as flat as maybe other pitches around the country. So it's about sort of learning about those batsmanship skills as well as having the power game as well. “But I don't like to put too much in their minds, in terms of numbers and targets, because most people play their best when they're clear-minded and they're free and they can just react to what's coming in front of them. So sometimes if we put too much in their mind, it clouds their mind and they don't play their best,” he noted. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
30 March,2026 09:47 AM IST | New Delhi | IANSKolkata Knight Riders (KKR) skipper Ajinkya Rahane, a Mumbai veteran, read the conditions at the Wankhede perfectly after being put in by Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya in their IPL-19 campaign opener on Sunday. At the time of going to press, MI were 135-0 in 11 overs. Rohit Sharma was batting on 67 (off 34 balls) and Ryan Rickelton was unbeaten on 66 (off 33 balls). Rahane crafted an impressive 40-ball 67 (3x4, 5x6) to help KKR post 220-4 in 20 overs. Rahane used his wrists beautifully, flicking a good length ball for a maximum over the mid-on fence off left-arm pacer Trent Boult (0-38) to open his account in the first over. He effortlessly welcomed Hardik (1-39) with two back-to-back sixes. The first, a well timed flick over long leg and the second dispatched over square leg fence with an easy pull shot. Rahane and Finn Allen (17-ball 37) helped KKR reach 50 off just 3.5 overs, stitching together 69 off just 32 balls. Rahane showcased his wrist work again dispatching MI bowling ace Jasprit Bumrah (0-35) for four when he came in to attack in the fifth over. Rahane, 37, was quick in his running between the wickets too as he twice in compelled the young Angkrish Raghuvanshi, 21, to steal double runs against young Afghanistan spinner AM Ghazanfar (0-51). Rahane’s straight six off leg-spinner Mayank Markande was another perfect example of taking minimum risk and getting maximum returns. Rahane, who got to his half-century in just 27 balls, eventually fell to his Mumbai Ranji teammate, Shardul Thakur (3-39). Thereafter though another Mumbai-based batter Raghuvanshi (29-ball 51, 6x4, 2x6) helped himself to a well made half-ton after being dropped on 21 by Rohit Sharma near the long-on fence. 300No. of matches played by the Mumbai Indians — 278 in the IPL and 22 in the CLT20
30 March,2026 09:41 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureIn a match that produced 404 runs in 35.4 overs, a run rate of 11.41, Jacob Duffy’s magnificent 4-0-22-3 was worth its weight in gold. What made it even more commendable was that it came on the 31-year-old New Zealander’s IPL debut, for holders Royal Challengers Bengaluru against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Decisive spell Ishan Kishan, the SRH skipper, smacked 80 off 38, but RCB hunted down 201-9 with six wickets and 26 deliveries to spare on the back of Devdutt Padikkal’s 26-ball 61 and Virat Kohli’s unbeaten 69 off 38. But it was Duffy who was the point of difference after claiming Travis Head, Abhishek Sharma and Nitish Kumar Reddy in the first five overs. Making the most of the bounce at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Duffy picked up all three wickets with the short ball. “A hell of a way to start the campaign,” the Player of the Match gushed on Saturday night. “I wanted to bowl the hard lengths, keep the ball there. We talked about the lengths, what works here. I haven’t seen such bounce in India before as we saw here.” RCB’s Devdutt Padikkal during his 26-ball 61 Bold call Four overs on the bounce before he made way for impact player Padikkal wasn’t part of the initial plan, skipper Rajat Patidar revealed. “I decided that after his third over because [Heinrich] Klaasen and Ishan Kishan were batting. If we got one more wicket there, we could destroy their batting line-up. Duffy bowled beautifully; he is a specialist T20 bowler and we have a lot of confidence in him.” Padikkal hit his first ball for six and dominated a stand of 101 with Kohli. “From Ball One, he was aggressive in the mindset and I enjoyed his batting from the dugout,” Patidar remarked. “Virat Kohli is the number one chase master. I like watching him bat — the shots he played, the way he assessed the situation…” ‘A challenging night’ The SRH bowlers had an outing to forget and Daniel Vettori, the head coach, conceded that it had been a ‘challenging’ night. “We just missed our lengths too much,” the former New Zealand captain admitted. “Duffy in particular showed the length to bowl on that surface.” Vettori added that it was Padikkal’s ferocious innings after Phil Salt’s second-over dismissal that was decisive. “To come in, hit his first ball for six, strike at over 200, take on all bowlers, allowed Virat to get into his innings, even though he was striking quickly too,” he said. “The impetus that he showed when he came in was the real difference.” 203-4No. of runs scored by RCB on Saturday — second-highest in a successful run chase against SRH after Kings XI Punjab’s 211-4 in 2014 15.4No. of overs taken by RCB to go past SRH’s 201-9 — the fastest 200-plus chase in IPL
30 March,2026 09:25 AM IST | Bengaluru | R KaushikSanju Samson is set for an emotional clash against Rajasthan Royals, the side he led and shaped for over a decade, as he turns out for Chennai Super Kings, while Ravindra Jadeja will also face his former franchise, adding a poignant sub-plot to the IPL match between the two teams here on Monday. For more than a decade, Samson was synonymous with RR, their batting mainstay, leader and all-time leading run-scorer who guided them to the 2022 final. Much like MS Dhoni at CSK, Samson was the Royals' identity, but in a blockbuster swap that sent Jadeja back to RR, the Kerala batter now finds himself in yellow, adding a new dimension to CSK's evolving core. Samson also arrives in prime form, having played a decisive role in India's triumphant T20 World Cup campaign. His hat-trick of 50-plus scores in must-win games against West Indies, England and New Zealand has made him the star of the nation as the unassuming keeper-batter will come with a renewed self-belief. He along with skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad, who are set to open also, will also form the core leadership of the team who will miss Dhoni for at least two weeks due to a calf strain. Dhoni has not travelled with the side to Guwahati as his absence will put Samson and Gaikwad in the spotlight. Dhon's absence will also open the door for emerging names like 20-year-old left-arm spin all-rounder Prashant Veer who impressed in domestic T20s and the franchise's big-money (Rs 14.2-core) uncapped recruit Kartik Sharma, known for his six-hitting exploits in the domestic circuit. With Dewald Brevis showing signs of maturity, Shivam Dube growing into a dependable middle-order force, and youngster Ayush Mhatre developing rapidly, CSK appear better equipped for a rebuild. Their bowling attack, featuring Noor Ahmad, Akeal Hosein, Matt Henry and Khaleel Ahmed will also offer variety and control. For RR, Samson's departure signals the end of an era and the beginning of another under Riyan Parag who will begin his captaincy stint playing at his home ground. The return of Jadeja adds experience and balance but his waning finishing skills could be a concern for the Royals. Their batting will revolve around Yashasvi Jaiswal, who now shoulders greater responsibility as the senior-most top-order presence. Alongside him, teenage prodigy Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and the in-form Shimron Hetmyer provide firepower, particularly in the powerplay where RR were among the most explosive sides last season. However, their bowling remains a concern. Despite an overhaul following a disappointing 2025 campaign questions remain over the consistency of their pace unit led by Jofra Archer while the spin department will have to depend on Jadeja and Ravi Bishnoi. Both teams are coming off underwhelming seasons, with CSK finishing at the bottom and RR just above them in ninth as they would look to reset. 16-15CSK’s win-loss record against RR across 31 matches This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
30 March,2026 09:24 AM IST | Guwahati | PTIRohit Sharma scored 78 runs in 38 balls to guide the Mumbai Indians to a record victory against the Kolkata Knight Riders. MI chased the target of 221 runs with 6 wickets in hand to win their first game of the season.Earlier, KKR put up a big total of 220 runs at the end of 20 overs, largely thanks to innings from Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi. KKR skipper Rahane scored 67 runs in 40 balls while Raghuvanshi scored 51 runs off 29 balls. During the innings break, KKR looked in a strong position in the match. However, the Mumbai Indians started strong with Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickleton to take the game away from the KKR.Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickleton stitched a partnership of 148 runs in under 12 overs to give MI a fast start. The duo dominated from the off, attacking the KKR bowlers in the powerplay. KKR's spinners Chakravarthy and Narine failed to have an impact on the game as MI openers took the game away from the visitors. Rohit eventually departed after scoring 78 runs after he skied a full toss. Anukul Roy took a brilliant catch diving full strength to send the former Indian skipper back to the pavilion. Suyakumar Yadav scored 16 runs in 8 balls to keep KKR under pressure.Ryan Rickleton was the star of the show for MI, scoring 81 runs in 43 balls to help the Mumbai Indians win by 6 wickets. The South African star was run out later in the innings after a direct hit from Anukul Toy. Mumbai Indians win their opening match for the first time since 2012 Mumbai Indians registered a victory in their first match of the season for the first time since 2012. MI had not won their opening match of the campaign in the last 13 attempts.Mumbai Indian's win put them joint top of the table with RCB, who won their match against SRH on Saturday. MI start as the strong favourites to win a record sixth IPL title, and their first since 2020. MI's next match will be against the Delhi Capitals on April 4.
29 March,2026 11:12 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentIn match no 2 of IPL, the Mumbai Indians have won the toss against the Kolkata Knight Riders and elected to bowl first. The match will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.Hardik Pandya confirmed that Jasprit Bumrah is back in the team. Shardul Thakur, Allah Ghazanfar and Sherfane Rutherford are set to make their debut for the hosts. Mitch Santner and Will Jacks are yet to join the MI camp.Hardik Pandya said,"We are going to bowl. Looks like a good track, it appears greener than it used to. Let's see how it plays. This is our fortress, the crowd is behind us and we're looking to play a good game. We started a couple of weeks earlier, have plenty of experience and a mix of youth. Rohit, Surya, Mitchell Santner - so there's no shortage of captains; I'm just excited to go out there and perform. We're going with 6 bowlers and 5 batters."Ajinkya Rahane confirmed KKR's four overseas players for the match. Finn Allen, Green, Narine, and Blessing Muzarabani are in the team for the big match against the 5-time champions. The KKR skipper said that they were looking to bowl first too. Rahane said,"We were looking to bowl, never seen this amount of grass at Wankhede. Preparations have been good, couple of camps in Kolkata and in Mumbai as well. Know that MI is a champion team and we're looking forward to be playing against them. Just stay at the moment and don't look at the past. A couple of injuries - we're going with 6 batters and 5 bowlers. Four overseas players - Cameron Green, Finn Allen, Sunil Narine and Blessing Muzarabani."Historically, this has been one of the most one-sided rivalries in IPL history, though KKR has closed the gap in recent years. In 34 matches, the Mumbai Indians have won 23 matches, while the KKR have won 11 games. At the Wankhede Stadium, MI holds a stranglehold, having won 10 out of the 11 encounters. However, the Mumbai Indians have not won the first game of the season since 2013. Confirmed Team News: Mumbai Indians XI: Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickleton, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Sherfane Rutherford, Naman Dhir, Shardul Thakur, Mayank Markande, Allah Ghazanfar, Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah KKR XI: Finn Allen, Ajinkya Rahane, Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Vaibhav Arora and Blessing Muzarabani
29 March,2026 07:14 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondentADVERTISEMENT
-1774805224188_d.png "Rohit Sharma (Pic: X/IPL)")
