Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton turn exorcists at Wankhede

By K.R. Nayar

Mumbai. Cricket becomes exciting when a jinx is broken and flung into the Arabian Sea. It turns into a spectacle when a target of 221 runs is chased with brilliant, aggressive batting. Even more, it turns magical when the home team wins, and that too at the historic Wankhede Stadium, where many spectacular victories have been celebrated in the past. All of this happened on March 29, during the second match of the Indian Premier League 2026, when Mumbai Indians won by six wickets over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) ending a 13-year jinx of not having won their opening game since 2012. 

The exorcists: Ryan Rickelton and Rohit Sharma. Photos: Mumbai Indians 

For fans who enjoy watching bowlers dominate, this was not their day. It was sheer massacre of the bowlers, so much so that if a bowler managed to deliver two dot balls in a stretch, he became a hero. Hence, it was not surprising that Mumbai’s Shardul Thakur, who bagged three wickets, was awarded the Player of the Match award despite some spectacular batting performances. Batters like Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton chased down the huge target with the swagger of street fighters. Every hit to the boundary and over it was etched with a question to the bowlers: how dare you bowl to us? 

At one stage, both Sharma and Rickelton resembled exorcists, working to erase the jinx of never having won their first match of an IPL season. Exorcists usually perform rituals to weave their spell and end the jinx; but at Wankhede it was just the bats casting the spell and bowlers praying for mercy. It was nothing but carnage without caution.

Ro-hit Sharma 

It’s always a treat to watch Sharma walk out to bat with his languid grace. While he went about tearing apart the bowling attack, the roar from the crowd could have very well been heard by his neighbours in his apartment complex at Worli. It may have also disturbed the peace of the non-cricket fans who would have preferred to spend their Sunday evening peacefully at the nearby Marine Drive or Chowpatty Beach. When Sharma effortlessly dispatched a rising delivery for a six into the stands, it felt like he could even convert brutality into poetry.

Ryan Rickelton - aggression without pressure 

Rickelton exhibited all the brilliance of an aggressive left-hander. He pierced gaps with elegance, and it was a treat to watch him dance down the track to hit into the stands. His strokes were such that he seemed never to have heard the word “pressure” or ever experienced nerves!

Earlier, KKR’s Ajinkya Rahane had crafted a captain’s innings. The timing and placement of his shots revealed that, though he is only a few days away from celebrating his 38th birthday, he is still a classy player—a master of placing shots. He accelerated the run flow like an experienced pilot wanting to lift his team to a winning total. When he hit the Mumbai bowlers with ease, including the great Jasprit Bumrah, who went wicketless, one got the feeling that a total of 220 might not be enough for a win.

Ajinkya Rahane - captain's knock. Photo: KKR 

Although the wicket had grass, no one thought it would be a batter’s paradise. Bowlers looked like they were caught in a storm with no shelter. In fact, spectators had to take shelter from the shower of sixes. Bowlers who attempted yorkers were unable to execute them due to the pressure from the batters. They produced variations, but all in vain. The batters were hitting with audacity, and it was relentless. To hunt down a target of 221 with one over to spare says it all.

After Royal Challengers had chased a total of 201 against Sunrisers Hyderabad in the first match of this season, it looks like in this edition of the IPL, totals don’t win matches anymore. The intent to win breaks everything—even jinxes—and the hearts of even the best of bowlers.