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KKR bushed MI by 4 wickets (Pic credit: IPL)
NEW DELHI: IPL 2026 scripted different portion of past connected Wednesday nighttime arsenic Kolkata Knight Riders’ four-wicket triumph implicit Mumbai Indians became the 42nd triumph of the play for a squad batting 2nd — the highest ever successful a azygous IPL edition.The erstwhile grounds stood astatine 41 palmy chases during the 2016 season, but with 5 league games inactive remaining successful IPL 2026, the existent run has already gone past that mark.
In 65 matches truthful acold this season, teams chasing person won 42 times, meaning 64.6 percent of completed games person been won by the broadside batting second. Excluding the no-result clash betwixt KKR and Punjab Kings, that percent rises further to 65.6.Only 3 IPL seasons person present witnessed 40 oregon much outright wins for chasing teams — 2026, 2016 and 2011 — underlining a increasing inclination that has tilted heavy successful favour of teams batting 2nd this year.
Most wins by chasing teams successful an IPL season
- 42 successful IPL 2026 (65 matches)
- 41 successful IPL 2016 (60 matches)
- 40 successful IPL 2011 (73 matches)
While the grounds highlights the thrill of palmy tally chases, it has besides reignited statement astir whether teams batting archetypal are progressively uncovering themselves astatine a disadvantage successful the competition.
KKR enactment live successful playoff race
On a tricky, two-paced Eden Gardens pitch, Kolkata produced a disciplined bowling effort earlier chasing down 148 with 4 wickets successful manus to support their playoff hopes alive.
Asked to bat archetypal by KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane, Mumbai ne'er recovered momentum aft aboriginal blows from pacers Saurabh Dubey and Cameron Green, who claimed 2 wickets each successful their opening spells.Mumbai slumped to 46/4 wrong the powerplay — the 5th clip this play they mislaid astatine slightest 3 wickets successful the archetypal six overs. Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma added 43 runs, but their basal consumed 49 balls and failed to supply the acceleration Mumbai desperately needed.Sunil Narine tightened the screws brilliantly successful the mediate overs, conceding conscionable 13 runs from 4 overs, portion precocious sixes from Corbin Bosch helped Mumbai scope 147/8.KKR’s pursuit besides began shakily aft Finn Allen fell successful the opening over. Rahane and Green departed soon aft arsenic Mumbai threatened an upset.But experienced campaigner Manish Pandey and Rovman Powell steadied the innings with a composed concern that yet decided the contest.Pandey, playing his archetypal crippled of the season, struck a important 45 and aboriginal admitted the innings meant a batch to him.“This is the lone clip I’ve batted this season. I’ve been padded up and waiting to bat, this is simply a peculiar 1 for me,” helium said.Powell’s assertive strokeplay complemented Pandey’s calm attack earlier Rinku Singh finished the pursuit and ensured KKR remained live successful the playoff race.
