MI vs KKR

11:45 PM local time and IST: Two matches done, two of the more fancied teams have begun on the right note chasing down 200-plus totals with ease and in both those games it has been a bowler who has recieved the player of the match awards which tells you how precious the bowlers are even in this day and age where the bat dominates the ball specially in a tournament like the IPL. Is this going to be the norm of the season? Is 200 the new 160? Is 220 the new 180? Well, we will find out as the season unfolds across different venues and different conditions. Tomorrow, the caravan moves to Guwahati where Rajasthan Royals will host Chennai Super Kings (minus Dhoni) in those two teams' first game of the season. We will see you there, for now this is Sourabh Agrawal sigining off on behalf of Datrim Ray and the entire team. Cheers!

Shardul Thakur is the Player of the Match for his 3/39 with the ball, here are his words: (what keeps him going?) I have said this before, I love challenges. It was a challenge to bowl the sixth over specially because you expect Boult and Bumrah to get the early wickets but it did not happen, challenges are what has made me.

(how special is it playing for his home franchise MI finally?) This ground has given me both bitter and sweet memories. To come and play here on my home ground for MI is special. Have been a net bowler as an upcoming boy in my early years. It was always going to happen and it has finally happened.

I will be very happy if I stay here till the end of my career. It is my home city. Would like to thank the whole MI management to back me, they traded me from LSG and trusted me with the first game straightaway.

("Lord" memes) I like them, it is the name that has been given by people with love. That is how they show their love, it is not really a meme

Hardik Pandya (Mumbai Indians captain): It has been a long wait, 13 years are a very long time. Every time we have wanted to want the season on a high, the group is very glad to have done that.

The modern cricket and the way this wicket plays, we knew with the kind of powerplay they had this wicket was very good. Credit to the bowlers for keeping them to 220 which is gettable, not letting them fly to 240s or 250s. The top two batters, Ro (Rohit) and Rickelton played great. Ro played some amazing shots, it was a treat to watch

(choosing between Rickelton and de Kock) It was tough, de Kock is our top man but he understood that we are going for continuity. Rickelton has done very well for this franchise, Quinny understands that

(Rohit Sharma's batting) I have seen many batters play shots but when Rohit Sharma plays those shots it leaves mouths opened. Very happy for him. (On Shardul Thakur) I told him before the start of the season, enough of hopping franchises and you are going to be here till the end of your career now

Ryan Rickelton [Available for a quick chat]: "Feels good. Had a few weeks of good preparation coming into the competition. It was an amazing feeling to go big with Rohit. (His thoughts on the run out) Yeah, I was a bit lazy and struggled to get back to my crease. No fault of Muzaranbai at all! I am very happy with the way we started tonight. Obviously felt that pressure. QDK is one of SA's great players, and to get a nod ahead of him is a special feeling. QDK is helpful and tries to get the best out of me. We get on very well, we are close, and we spend quite a lot of time in the middle, especially in the nets. Enjoy having him both on and off the field."

Ajinkya Rahane (KKR Captain): "(How does he feel after the cramps?) Feeling alright. Yes, there are some cramps, but hopefully it will be all ok before the next game (Tough day for bowlers). Yes, very tough. I thought 220 was good, but we had an inexperienced bowling attack and felt comfortably short against MI's star-studded batting lineup. I think it is a learning experience for the players. (How does he reflect on his batting innings) Yes, I am feeling good, but struggling with cramps, which happen in Mumbai. I think if Green starts to bowl, then we can find the combination. If he can start bowling, then that would be great. (Why is he not bowling) Question for Crickert Australia! I think we played well.  Karthik Tyagi had a decent outing towards the end, and we will walk away with plenty of positives."

11:12 PM local time and IST: MATCH SUMMARY

Mumbai Indians (224/4 in 19.1 overs) beat Kolkata Knight Riders (220/4 in 20 overs) by 6 wickets

Ryan Rickelton 81(43) | Shardul Thakur 3/39(4)
Ajinkya Rahane 67(40) | Sunil Narine 1/30(3)

MI complete their highest ever successful run chase and win their first game of the season for the first time after 2012, yes the 14-year jinx has been broken. Mumbai Indians have won hundredes of games over the years but this win means a lot to them, you can see it in the celebrations and the smiles in the dugout

KKR would feel that they got a good score on the board, they might have wanted 10-15 more with the kind of first half they had with the bat but there the credits should go to the likes of Bumrah and Boult who controlled the damage at the death plus Shardul Thakur as well who chipped away with the wickets registering a 3-er

MI needed what they needed to do, this had to be the highest ever successful run chase at the Wankhede Stadium in IPL and the home side turned up big time. Thousands turned up to watch the Hitman bat and he provided with a scintilating knock, Rohit Sharma was in ominous touch on what was a flat deck and he along with his opening partner Ryan Rickelton made a mockery of this KKR bowling attack which looked toothless after a point

Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton put on MI's second highest opening partnership ever, they added 148 runs together in no time and killed the game pretty early in the run chase. They added 80 runs in the powerplay, damaged every bowler which came their way and went all guns blazing from the get go

Rohit was eventually dismissed for 78, Rickelton was run-out in an unfortunate way on 81 both due to some briliance in the field by Anukul Roy but the result was never in question once the two openers did what they did. SKY came in as an impact, played a breezy cameo, so did Tilak and even though the scorecard would say that the match went to the last over it was always going one way. Hardik Pandya remained unbeaten on 18* to see his side through and open the season with a win for the first time after 2012

KKR were hampered by the absence of their skipper Ajinkya Rahane who limped off the field due to some cramps in his legs after thr 4th over in the chase and Rinku had to take the reigns from there on and you could see the lack of experience showing there. A few catches went down as well, it was overall a performance to forget with the ball and on the field from KKR, all of their 6 bowlers travelled at more than 10 an over 

19.1 Anukul Roy to Naman Dhir, DHIR FINISHES IT OFF IN STYLE! MI WIN THEIR FIRST OPENING IPL GAME SINCE 2012! At last, the jinx has been broken. Flatter and quicker outside off. Dhir extends his arms out and lofts it up and over mid off to get MI over the line in a thumping fashion. 

Scores are level! We will go into the final over but there really can be one winner, MI on the verge of starting off their season with a win after as many as 14 years

18.6 Sunil Narine to Hardik Pandya, FOUR! SCORES LEVEL! Narine drags his length short on middle. Hardik rocks back and swings it away towards deep midwicket for a four.