Rohit Sharma rolls back the years with record-breaking knock against KKR
For about 70 minutes on Sunday evening, the Wankhede felt like 2015 again. Rohit Sharma walked in, picked his spots, and tore apart a KKR attack that had just posted 220 for 4. His 78 off 38 balls included six fours and six sixes, and it gave Mumbai Indians a platform that made one of the highest chases in IPL history look almost routine.
Fastest fifty of his IPL career
Rohit reached his half-century in 23 balls, beating his previous quickest IPL fifty of 25 balls, set in the 2015 final against Chennai Super Kings. He came into this season having not played a T20 match for over ten months, but nothing about his timing or intent suggested rust. The pull shots were crisp, the lofted drives clean, and he targeted both pace and spin without discrimination.
Joining an elite group
The knock also gave Rohit his 50th fifty-plus score in the IPL, making him just the fourth player to reach that mark. He joins Virat Kohli, David Warner and Shikhar Dhawan in a group that speaks to longevity as much as talent. All four built their records across more than a decade of IPL cricket, and Rohit's 78 was a reminder that the 38-year-old still has the hunger to add to his numbers.
Rickelton delivered on the other end
Ryan Rickelton's 81 off 43 balls at the other end meant KKR could not focus all their plans on Rohit. The South African left-hander hit four fours and eight sixes, and the pair put on 148 off just 72 balls for the opening wicket. It was the kind of opening partnership that kills a chase before it really begins. By the time Rickelton fell, Mumbai needed barely 70 more from eight overs with all their power hitters still to come.
KKR's total was not enough
Ajinkya Rahane's 67 off 40 and Angkrish Raghuvanshi's 51 off 29 had given KKR 220 for 4, a total that would win most IPL matches. Finn Allen's 37 off 17 at the top set the pace. But Shardul Thakur's 3 for 39 prevented KKR from going past 230, and in the end, Mumbai chased 221 with five balls to spare. It was their first opening-match win since 2012, ending a streak that had become one of the IPL's more reliable quirks.
Shardul Thakur picked up the Player of the Match award for his three-wicket haul, though most people at the Wankhede will remember the night for Rohit's batting. At 38, coming off a long break, that kind of knock deserves to be remembered.
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