Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) returned to winning ways, as they defeated Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, April 12.
Hardik Pandya won the toss in the highly-anticipated fixture and opted to field first. However, the bowlers failed to give the five-time champions the breakthrough with the new ball. Phil Salt returned to form emphatically, as he took the Mumbai bowlers to the cleaners. Virat Kohli also gave him solid company, as the right-handed duo stitched 120 runs inside 11 overs.
After Salt’s dismissal, Rajat Patidar promoted himself to No. 3 and scored a 17-ball half-century. Kohli also helped himself to another fifty before getting out to Hardik in the 15th over. Patidar also fell in the following over, but Tim David didn’t allow the momentum to shift towards the home side. He slammed 34 off 16 balls to help the visitors finish on 240/4.
In reply, Mumbai would have hoped for Ryan Rickelton and Rohit Sharma to give them a fiery start. They did add 57 runs off 32 balls before Rohit left the field, struggling with his hamstring. Suyash Sharma struck twice in the eighth over to send Rickelton and Tilak Varma back to the hut. Suryakumar tried hard but the pressure of chasing a mammoth total got to him as he perished for 33 off 22 balls.
Hardik Pandya (40 off 22) and Sherfane Rutherford (71*) played their shots towards the end but all it managed was to delay the inevitable. The defending champions eventually won the match by 18 runs.
Key Moments from Match 20 of IPL 2026:
Salt-Kohli partnership sets Wankhede ablaze
Salt and Kohli brought back memories from last season as they made the opposition bowlers dance to their tunes. While the former India captain was slightly watchful, the England wicketkeeper showed no mercy. In his indomitable style, Salt smashed 78 off just 36 balls, hitting six fours and as many sixes. Their 120-run partnership set the foundation for a huge first-innings total which proved to be too big a mountain for Mumbai to scale. Kohli, on the other hand, scored 50 off 38 balls with the help of five fours and one six.
Rohit Sharma walks off with hamstring issue
This proved to be a critical moment in the match. Rohit Sharma, who has been in rampaging form in IPL 2026, looked good for his 13-ball 19. He hit one six and two fours during his brief stay at the crease. The opening partnership was firing on all cylinders but Rohit’s hamstring issue came as a huge setback for the hosts. Had the former India captain batted for a few more overs, he could have wreaked more havoc with Rickelton for company.
10:26 PM · Apr 12, 2026
Rajat Patidar plays another captain’s knock
Rajat Patidar is only in his fifth season in the IPL and has only played four international matches in his career. However, he has been showing guts and maturity beyond the experience he has. He could have easily sent in Tim David to the middle when Salt departed in the 11th over. However, the Madhya Pradesh batter showed faith in his abilities and took responsibility as he walked out to the middle with purpose. He took no prisoners during his 20-ball stay at the crease. After facing his first 11 balls, Patidar had already amassed 44 runs. He eventually finished on 53 off 20 balls, registering second consecutive half-century.
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