Mumbai Indians cruised to a six-wicket victory in their IPL 2026 opener against Kolkata Knight Riders, at Wankhede Stadium on Monday. Chasing 221 runs, MI raced to 224/4 in 19.1 overs, courtesy of openers Ryan Rickelton (81) and Rohit Sharma (78). Taking to X, former India cricketer Aakash Chopra pointed out two tactical observations from the match in the first innings when KKR were batting.
MI opened their IPL 2026 campaign with a win against KKR. (PTI)
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Chopra stated that only two MI bowlers bowled back-to-back overs, which were Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah. Hardik's spell came in the opening stages, and KKR were in cruise control mode then, but failed to score a single run through the offside.
"Two interesting things to note in yesterday’s first innings. Only two bowlers for MI bowed back to back over. That too—2 over spells. Boom and Hardik. 2-4 for Hardik. 18-20th for Boom," he said.
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"And KKR didn’t score a single run through the off-side in the first 5 overs. And they were cruising. Can’t remember any other such 5-over phase in T20 recently," he added.
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"And KKR didn’t score a single run through the off-side in the first 5 overs. And they were cruising. Can’t remember any other such 5-over phase in T20 recently," he added.
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Reacting to Chopra's explanation, one fan wrote, "That off-side stat is insane, Aakash sir! It shows MI bowled completely to a set leg-side trap, but KKR batters basically hacked the angles. For a team to cruise with zero off-side runs means MI's execution failed drastically. Pure tactical anomaly!"
Agreeing with the fan, Chopra responded, "Incredible it was. Pitch conditions. Bowling plans. But yes, an anomaly."
In the first innings, Ajinkya Rahane (67) and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (51) got half-centuries as KKR reached 220/4 in 20 overs. For MI, Shardul Thakur took three wickets, and Hardik bagged a dismissal. For KKR in the run chase, Sunil Narine, Kartik Tyagi and Vaibhav Arora took a dismissal each.
Neelav Chakravarti has been part of the digital sports team at Hindustan Times since 2022, where he covers a wide range of disciplines, including chess, cricket, football, and Olympic sports. Working in a fast-paced digital newsroom, he regularly handles live blogs, breaking updates, and trending stories, combining speed with clarity to keep readers informed in real time. Chess remains both a professional beat and a personal passion for Neelav, and he closely tracks major international tournaments, player narratives, and emerging talents. He is particularly fascinated by the patience, calculation, and strategic depth the game demands, often exploring the psychological side of competition in his writing. Beyond sports journalism, Neelav has a deep interest in visual storytelling and filmmaking, actively participating in film festivals and engaging with independent cinema. He is especially drawn to films that capture the subtleties of everyday life and human relationships, appreciating storytelling that balances realism with emotional depth. This creative interest complements his approach to sports coverage, where he enjoys highlighting the human stories behind performances and results.
A history enthusiast by academic training, Neelav holds a bachelor’s degree in the subject and maintains a sustained interest in ancient and medieval Indian history, particularly in cultural and social transitions across eras. His curiosity about the past often shapes his perspective on contemporary narratives and long-form storytelling. When he isn’t tracking scores or developing storylines, Neelav enjoys spending time over the chessboard, relaxing with his cats, or listening to the Empire podcast by Anita Anand and William Dalrymple. He also enjoys reading long-form sports writing that explores the emotional and cultural layers of sport, while maintaining a quiet routine that balances reading, reflection, and occasional time with friends.
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Home/Cricket/Aakash Chopra points out unusual bowling patterns, off-side anomaly as MI beat KKR
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