Kamal Ghorui
Mumbai Indians finally broke a long-standing Indian Premier League jinx, registering a six-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in their season opener at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.It was a result that rewrote a decade-old narrative. Mumbai Indians had not won their first match of an IPL season since 2012, but that hoodoo ended in emphatic fashion as they chased down a daunting 221 with ease, finishing at 224/4 in just 19.1 overs.Rohit, Rickelton power record chaseThe chase was powered by a commanding opening stand between Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton, who dismantled the Kolkata attack with fearless strokeplay. Rohit, playing his first T20 since the last IPL season, looked in sublime touch with a blistering 78 off just 38 balls, peppered with six sixes and four boundaries. At the other end, Rickelton matched the aggression with an equally impressive 81 off 43 balls, clearing the ropes eight times.The duo added 148 runs in just 72 balls, effectively taking the game away from KKR. Rohit was particularly dominant against both pace and spin, showcasing his trademark elegance with lofted drives and crisp pulls, while Rickelton targeted the leg-side boundary against the likes of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy.Though both set batters fell against the run of play, Mumbai Indians were firmly in control. Skipper Hardik Pandya (18 not out) and Naman Dhir calmly guided the side over the line to secure two crucial points.Rahane, Raghuvanshi lift KKR to 220Earlier, Kolkata Knight Riders posted a formidable 220/4, riding on half-centuries from Ajinkya Rahane (67 off 40) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (51 off 29). The visitors got off to a flying start, with Finn Allen’s quickfire 37 adding further momentum.However, Shardul Thakur (3/39) provided crucial breakthroughs to peg them back at key intervals, preventing the total from breaching the 240-mark. Despite a wicketless outing for frontline pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult, Mumbai’s bowlers managed to contain the late surge.With their opening-match curse finally behind them, Mumbai Indians will look to build on this momentum. Meanwhile, attention now shifts to Monday’s clash, where Rajasthan Royals take on Chennai Super Kings at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati, in what promises to be another high-stakes encounter.
