New Delhi: Mumbai Indians (MI) defeated Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by six wickets in the second match of the IPL 2026 at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, March 29. The five-time champions finally broke a long-standing jinx and won their first game of the season after 14 years.
Chasing a 221-run target, Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton forged a 148-run partnership for the first wicket as MI crossed the winning line with five balls to spare. Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) set the tone last night by chasing a 202-run target in just 15.4 overs, and MI took it a step further by chasing 220 runs comfortably.
Most of the highest successful run chases in IPL history came after the introduction of the Impact Player rule in 2023, which boosted the batting depth and flexibility. Earlier, scores above 200 were considered match-winning in most cases, but have been chased comfortably in recent seasons of the IPL.
Highest successful IPL run-chases
262 – PBKS vs KKR, Kolkata, 2024
246 – SRH vs PBKS, Hyderabad, 2025
228 – RCB vs LSG, Lucknow, 2025
224 – RR vs PBKS, Sharjah, 2020
224 – RR vs KKR, Kolkata, 2024
221 – MI vs KKR, Wankhede, 2026*
In the opening match, the defending champions RCB chased down a 202-run target with more than four overs to spare against SRH. Virat Kohli smashed an unbeaten 69 runs off 38 balls with the help of five boundaries and as many maximums. Devdutt Padikkal also scored 61 runs off 26 balls, smashing seven boundaries and four maximums.
In the second match, MI chased down the 221-run target with five balls to spare. Rohit Sharma smashed 78 runs off 38 balls with six maximums and six boundaries. Rickelton also scored 81 runs off 43 balls, hitting eight maximums and four boundaries.
Fans urge BCCI to remove Impact Player rule
BCCI should do something to bring back the balance between the bat and all. The game is getting too boring for neutrals.
— Sergio (@SergioCulerCSK) March 29, 2026
200+ totals in the Indian Premier League:
* 2008–2022: 133
* 2023–2026: 135Pitches have become flatter, the Impact Player rule gives batters extra cushion, and factors like dew only add to their advantage.
Right now, it feels like everything is tilted against the bowlers to…
— Riseup Pant (@riseup_pant17) March 29, 2026
Has the @IPL quietly turned into a batting carnival? 🤔
Flat pitches, impact player rule, shorter boundaries… where’s the space for bowlers to fight back anymore?— Ganesh 🇮🇳 (@GaneshVerse) March 29, 2026
@BCCI @IPL You’re destroying cricket by producing these kinds of pitches and Every team is easily scoring 200+
*Remove the Impact Player rule.
*Increase the boundary size to 70 meters.
*Provide some assistance for bowlers in the pitch.
— 85 TONS (@GamingVk18) March 29, 2026
Indian Premier League ❌
Batting Premier League ✅
There is no room for bowlers at all
Flat pitches, short boundaries, impact player rule, the balance between bat and ball is disappearing— R (@vermaaa_) March 29, 2026
IPL is basically a win toss and chase meta. The impact player rule favors chasing so much. I think people will start getting bored with IPL this season.
— GSD Sports (@GSD2025) March 29, 2026
Remove impact player rule and bring the pitches like the T20 Wc initial matches @IPL @BCCI nobody wants these high scoring matches anymore..
Cricket ehh pakathan dha 200, 250+ scores venum nu kepan it’s feels soo boring nowadays.. genuine cricket fans needs old 160-180 thrillers
— Akbar Tennyson (@akbertweets) March 29, 2026
@BCCI need to understand IPL high scoring games are no fun 1st inning 180 they are defending it will give you more entertainment than scoring 220 and it chased in 17 overs. Suggestion Increase the boundary size and remove impact player rule
— Andhak (@Andhak_22) March 29, 2026
The impact player rule needs to be removed after this season for the sake of this beautiful game…It has made even IPL boring at grounds like Chinnaswamy and Wankhede where the chasing team is at massive advantage no matter what the score in the first innings
— Asif (@ASIFCR75) March 29, 2026
2 back to back boring matches…
oh dear! this IPL feels so dead— Tanishk ᡣ𐭩 (@utd4lifemate3) March 29, 2026
Rajasthan Royals (RR) will face Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in the third match of the IPL 2026 at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on March 30.