The Wankhede Stadium erupted as RCB openers Phil Salt and Virat Kohli painted a masterpiece in their IPL 2026 encounter with Mumbai Indians. Batting first after losing the toss, RCB raced to 240 for 4 in 20 overs, thanks to a sensational start and middle-order mayhem.
Salt’s aggression was unmatched, bludgeoning 78 runs from 36 balls, complete with 6 fours and 6 sixes at 216 strike rate. Kohli anchored impeccably, reaching 50 off 38 with elegant boundaries. Their 120-run stand in 10.5 overs left MI reeling.
Rajat Patidar’s captain’s knock of 53 off 20 (265 SR, 4x4s, 5x6s) shifted gears higher. Jitesh Sharma scored a quick 10, while Tim David’s unbeaten 34 off 16 (212 SR) and Shepherd’s 2* sealed a formidable total.
Bowling duties for MI were spread: Boult, Santner, Thakur, and skipper Pandya picking one each. Team changes included RCB’s Duffy for Hazlewood and MI’s Markande for Chahar, Santner for Ghaznavi.
As MI straps on for the chase, RCB’s batting depth signals a potential upset in this blockbuster Sunday showdown.
