Rahane, Raghuvanshi Power KKR to 220/4 Against Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026 Opener

Mumbai, March 2026 : Skipper Ajinkya Rahane and young batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi struck impressive half-centuries as Kolkata Knight Riders posted a formidable 220/4 in 20 overs against Mumbai Indians in their opening match of the Indian Premier League 2026 at the iconic Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.

After being put in to bat, Rahane led from the front on his home ground with a fluent 67 off 40 balls, setting the tone for a high-scoring innings. Raghuvanshi then provided the finishing flourish with a brisk 51 off just 28 deliveries, ensuring KKR crossed the 200-run mark despite a mid-innings slowdown.

The KKR innings got off to a relatively quiet start before exploding into life in the third and fourth overs. Rahane and Finn Allen unleashed a barrage of boundaries, racing to the team’s fifty in just 23 balls. The duo hammered 54 runs in just 18 deliveries, putting early pressure on the Mumbai bowlers.

Afghan spinner AM Ghazanfar was taken to the cleaners in his first over, conceding 17 runs, including two sixes and a four by Allen. The assault intensified when Rahane smashed back-to-back sixes off Hardik Pandya, while Allen added boundaries to cap a 26-run over.

The breakthrough came in the sixth over when Shardul Thakur dismissed Allen for a quickfire 37 off 17 balls. The opening stand yielded 69 runs, providing a strong platform as KKR finished the Power-play at 78/1.

Cameron Green, making headlines as the costliest overseas player in IPL history, contributed 18 off 10 balls before falling to Thakur, who cleverly used variations in pace. Rahane and Green added 40 runs for the second wicket before Mumbai began to claw back into the contest.

Rahane continued his impressive knock, reaching his half-century in 27 balls with a mix of elegant strokes, including three fours and four sixes. However, just as he looked set for a bigger score, Thakur struck again, claiming his third wicket as Rahane mistimed a shot to Pandya at cover.

KKR then experienced a brief slump, losing momentum in the middle overs. But Raghuvanshi and Rinku Singh steadied the innings with a crucial 60-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Raghuvanshi showcased maturity and aggression, taking on the bowlers with confidence.

He survived a dropped catch by Rohit Sharma near the boundary and capitalised immediately, smashing a four and a six in quick succession. He also struck a towering six off Thakur, while Rinku provided solid support with an unbeaten 33 off 21 balls.

Raghuvanshi reached his fifty in just 28 balls, hitting six fours and two sixes before being dismissed by Pandya. By then, KKR had surged past the 200-run mark, finishing strongly at 220/4.

For Mumbai Indians, Thakur was the standout bowler with figures of 3/39, while the rest of the attack struggled to contain KKR’s aggressive batting.

With a commanding total on the board, Kolkata Knight Riders will look to back their batting effort with a disciplined bowling performance in what promises to be a thrilling contest.

Brief Scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders 220/4 (Ajinkya Rahane 67, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 51, Finn Allen 37, Rinku Singh 33*; Shardul Thakur 3/39) vs Mumbai Indians.