NEW DELHI: Five-time champions
Mumbai Indians will begin their IPL 2026 campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders in a high-voltage clash at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday. Both teams will be eager to make a strong start, setting the tone for what promises to be a competitive season.
Mumbai Indians, led by Hardik Pandya, will be aiming to secure their sixth IPL title. With experienced stars like Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, and Suryakumar Yadav, MI have a solid core and plenty of match-winners in their lineup. After falling short in recent seasons, they will be determined to go all the way this time.
Kolkata Knight Riders, captained by Ajinkya Rahane, head into the season with a refreshed squad. With players like Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, and Cameron Green, KKR will look to bounce back strongly after a disappointing previous campaign.
MI vs KKR: Head-to-head
- Total matches played: 35
- Mumbai Indians won: 24
- Kolkata Knight Riders won: 11
Wankhede pitch report
The Wankhede Stadium pitch is known for being batting-friendly, offering good bounce and pace. Batters enjoy playing their shots freely, and high-scoring matches are common here. Fast bowlers may get some swing early on, while spinners could come into play later. Dew in night matches often makes chasing easier.
Wankhede Stadium T20 stats
- Total matches: 21
- Matches won batting first: 11
- Matches won bowling first: 10
- Average 1st innings score: 180
- Average 2nd innings score: 158
- Highest total: 254/6
- Lowest total: 80/10
- Highest successful chase: 230/8
- Lowest defended total: 143/6
MI vs KKR: When and where to watch
- When: March 29, 7:30 PM IST
- Where: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
- Live telecast: Star Sports Network
- Live streaming: JioHotstar
MI vs KKR: Predicted XIs
Mumbai Indians XI: Rohit Sharma, Ryan Rickelton (WK), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (C), Will Jacks, Mitchell Santner, Naman Dhir, Deepak Chahar, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah
Impact player: Shardul Thakur
Kolkata Knight Riders XI: Finn Allen (WK), Ajinkya Rahane (C), Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Cameron Green, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Sunil Narine, Varun Chakravarthy, Vaibhav Arora, Kartik Tyagi, Blessing Muzarabani
Impact player: Umran Malik
Mumbai weather forecast
The weather in Mumbai is expected to be clear during the match. Conditions will be warm and humid, with temperatures around 25°C. There is little to no chance of rain, ensuring an uninterrupted game.
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