IPL 2026, MI vs KKR: Head-to-head, Wankhede pitch report, stadium stats, and Mumbai weather forecast

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.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.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 BumrahImpact player: Shardul ThakurKolkata 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 MuzarabaniImpact player: Umran MalikThe 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.