Rohit Sharma at last breathes a sigh of relief, sums up Mumbai Indians’ 14-year-long IPL wait after win over KKR

Rohit Sharma, who scored 78 runs, expressed relief at finally overcoming the jinx.

Updated on: Mar 30, 2026, 11:06:33 IST

Written by Aditya Bhattacharya

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Rohit Sharma was yet to be appointed as captain of the Mumbai Indians when the franchise last won its opening match of an Indian Premier League season. Yes, back in 2012, MI, the five-time champions, were yet to get off the mark, with their best show being a runner-up finish in 2012. It took 14 long years, but MI, who went over a decade losing the first match of every season, finally broke the curse. They began the IPL 2026 with a sensational six-wicket win over three-time champions Kolkata Knight Riders at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium.

Rohit Sharma couldn't have asked for a better start (Sportz Asia)

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Rohit was at the forefront of MI’s rise as an IPL powerhouse, leading them to wins in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020. But while they went over the finish lines and are on the lookout for a record-extending sixth title, the heartbreak of always losing the first match of the season lingered… until last night, when MI played a dominating brand of cricket and laid the burden to rest.

After the match, for Rohit, the star of the show who scored 78 off 38 and emerged as the top scorer, winning MI’s IPL 2026 opener was a huge monkey off his back. As Mumbai Indians owner Nita Ambani addressed the winning dressing room, presenting a badge to the Hitman, Rohit reflected on what it meant to finally break the jinx.

What Rohit told the dressing room

“Well done, boys. This is something that we have wanted for the last 13 years. We’ve been talking about it. Now the ball is in our court. We decided what we have to do with it; it’s up to each one of us. So, head straight, feet on the ground. Let’s keep moving,” a pumped Rohit told his teammates.

Rohit sparkled with a breathtaking innings. That he started with a fifty bodes well for MI, who have been backed to win the IPL by several greats. Rohit smashed six fours and six sixes during his stay in the middle, and along with Ryan Rickelton, provided a smashing start to the chase of 221, adding 148 for the opening wicket.

It was the sixth time Mumbai Indians chased down 200-plus in the IPL, extending their dominant record over Kolkata Knight Riders to 25-11, including an 11th win at this venue.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Aditya Bhattacharya
Aditya Bhattacharya is the Sports Editor at Hindustan Times Digital, with close to 15 years of experience in sports journalism. Over the course of his career, he has worked with leading media organisations including Cricbuzz, The Times of India, Network18 and Zee. Primarily a cricket writer, Aditya has covered several marquee events, including the 2016 ICC World T20, the 2019 ICC World Cup in England and the 2023 World Cup in India. His reporting portfolio also includes international cricket across England, South Africa and New Zealand, along with forays into tennis, including coverage of the Australian Open. He has interviewed several prominent athletes across sports. Aditya began his career with a brief stint at CricketNext before getting his first major break at Cricbuzz, where he was part of the Times Network’s startup venture GoCricket, which later merged with Cricbuzz. After nearly 18 months there, he moved to The Times of India, covering his first World Cup assignment and reporting first-hand on landmark moments such as Virat Kohli’s iconic innings against Australia in Mohali. During his three-year tenure, he played a key role in both reporting and desk operations and was recognised as TOI Employee of the Quarter in 2016. He later joined Zee, where he covered the 2019 World Cup across five venues in England—an assignment he considers a career highlight. At Hindustan Times, Aditya’s leadership came to the fore as he was promoted to lead the sports team within 18 months. Under his stewardship, the section has delivered extensive coverage of global sporting events, including the IPL, Olympics, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, Commonwealth Games and Asian Games. In 2024, he was named HT DigiStar of the Year. Aditya continues to adapt to the evolving digital publishing landscape, with a sharp focus on search and audience engagement. Outside work, he occasionally plays the guitar and remains an avid gamer.Read More

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