Salt and Patidar power RCB to 18-run win over Mumbai Indians at Wankhede
Royal Challengers Bengaluru put on a batting clinic at Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, piling up 240 for 4 before their bowlers held firm to seal an 18-run victory over Mumbai Indians in Match 20 of IPL 2026.
Salt and Kohli lay the platform
Hardik Pandya won the toss and chose to bowl, a decision that backfired almost immediately. Phil Salt tore into Mumbai's attack from the first over, racing to 78 off 36 balls with six sixes and six fours in an innings that gave the bowlers nowhere to hide. He hammered Mitchell Santner for three consecutive sixes in one particularly brutal over. Virat Kohli played the anchor role at the other end, and the pair put on 120 for the opening wicket before Salt fell to Shardul Thakur. Kohli carried on to 50 off 38 balls before being dismissed shortly after reaching his half-century.
Patidar's record-equalling blitz
Rajat Patidar walked in and barely needed to find his feet. The RCB skipper reached his fifty off just 17 balls, equalling Chris Gayle's mark for the second-fastest half-century by an RCB batter in IPL history, and finished with 53 off 20 deliveries. Tim David chipped in with a quick cameo to push the total past 240, a target that looked daunting even on a flat Wankhede deck.
Suyash Sharma's double strike turns the chase
Mumbai needed a fast start and got one, with Ryan Rickelton and Rohit Sharma putting on runs freely in the powerplay. But Rohit pulled up with a right hamstring problem in the sixth over after scoring 19 off 13 balls and was forced to retire hurt. Suyash Sharma then turned the match in the eighth over, removing both Rickelton and Tilak Varma in the same over to leave Mumbai's chase in trouble.
Hardik Pandya counter-attacked with 40, and Sherfane Rutherford was magnificent at the death with an unbeaten 71 off 31 balls, but the asking rate had grown too steep. Mumbai finished on 222 for 5, 18 runs short of a target that proved just beyond their reach.
What it means for both sides
The win keeps RCB's title defence on track after their heavy defeat to Rajasthan Royals two days ago. For Mumbai, this is a second straight loss, and Rohit's hamstring will be a real concern heading into a busy stretch of fixtures.
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