HIGHLIGHTS Mumbai Indians vs Punjab Kings IPL 2026 Match 24 - Result, Scorecard

We are back for the all-important run chase. The players of Mumbai Indians are seen in a huddle near the boundary ropes, with Jasprit Bumrah leading the pep talk, after which they stride onto the field of play. The umpires are back out in the middle, and the duo of Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya is all set to open the innings for Punjab Kings.

... The run chase ...

Punjab will back themselves - Punjab Kings, in recent times, have become a team that chases down 200-plus totals for fun and they will take a target of 196 for sure. However, with how things started, they will feel that they could have restricted MI to under the 180-run mark as well. De Kock wasn't the only one who made a comeback, as Arshdeep Singh made a comeback to form, picking up 3 wickets for just 22 runs in 4 overs, including an early double blow. Yuzvendra Chahal was uncharacteristically off-color as the other pacers proved to be a mixed-bag for Punjab. Right then, this is the Wankhede strip that does play a bit slow, but the dew seems to have set in and the second innings will certainly be better for batting. Mumbai Indians might hand the new ball to Jasprit Bumrah as they continue their search for a win after three losses. Can they stop the Punjab juggernaut? We'll find out soon enough as the run chase is up next.

Naman Dhir is down for a quick chat - Naman Dhir says that the wicket feels very good. He thinks they are 20 runs short, but hopefully they can defend it. Adds that some of the shots Quinton de Kock played were unbelievable, the first six he hit over cover was special. Mentions that the wicket is on the slower side, the bounce isn't that good and he is backing the bowlers to do the job. Dhir shares that he is not a player who smashes the ball a day before the game, he is used to timing the ball. If it is hitting the middle of the bat, that is good enough for him. Says that he did not go out there to counter-attack, he just backed his shots

A return for the ages - Quinton de Kock has been in blistering form over the last 6 or so months since returning to international cricket, but he had to wait patiently for his return to the MI lineup. However, he's yet again proved that he is one of the all-time greats when it comes to the white-ball game. An unbeaten 112 off just 60 balls on return, but it just wasn't enough to get Mumbai past that 200-run mark. De Kock wasn't the only bright spot for MI, as Naman Dhir, who was promoted to number 4, built a 134-run stand with the Protea and notched up a half-century himself.

A Titanic tussle - End of a very watchable first half of the contest, and at the halfway mark, neither side has complete control of the game but the momentum seems to be with Punjab Kings, who bowled brilliantly at the death.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Quinton de Kock, Just a couple of runs to end the innings! Vijaykumar Vyshak bowls a low full toss, on middle, Quinton de Kock lobs it over the bowler's head and comes back for the second run. Mumbai Indians finish on 195/6!

The next batter is in. It is the debutant Mayank Rawat, but he will be at the non-striker's end.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Tilak Varma, OUT! TILAK VARMA IS RUN OUT! Vijaykumar Vyshak serves in the blockhole, just outside off. Tilak gets low and swings at it but gets an inside edge onto his pads, as the ball rolls to the off side. Quinton de Kock calls for the run and Varma responds but he has to get up before he can set off and that split second does the damage. Vijaykumar Vyshak quickly gets to the ball, moving to his right. He picks up, takes aim and hits the stumps at the bowler's end, with Tilak just short of his crease. The third umpire confirms the same.

Oh, a close call. The third umpire is called in for a run-out check. Replays confirm that Tilak Varma has no part of the bat grounded inside the crease when the bails light up. OUT!

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Tilak Varma, FOUR! Two balls, two boundaries for Tilak! Bangs this into the pitch, on middle, gives no pace but this one sits up nicely for the batter. Tilak Varma pounces on it and hammers it to the deep square leg fence for four runs.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Quinton de Kock, Touch fuller and around off, Quinton de Kock lofts it off the toe-end of the bat towards long off for a single.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Quinton de Kock, Short of a length and around off, Quinton de Kock pulls it away wide of deep mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Quinton de Kock, Good stop! Back of a length and around off, Quinton de Kock swats it down the pitch, where Vijaykumar Vyshak gets low in his follow-through and stops the ball.

Three bowlers have overs up their sleeves, but surely, it will be Vijaykumar Vyshak to bowl the final over, right? Yes, it is Vyshak.

Arshdeep Singh to Tilak Varma, FOUR! Gets it away! A full toss around leg. Tilak Varma crouches low and helps it away to the fine leg fence for a useful boundary. 200 still on for MI.

Tilak Varma walks in at number 7 for MI.

Arshdeep Singh to Sherfane Rutherford, OUT! BOWLED'EM! Absolute cracker from Arshdeep Singh. He executes the yorker again at 136.1 kph, on middle, tailing in late and dips in too. Sherfane Rutherford stays in his crease but even before he gets his bat down, the ball goes through and crashes into the base of the middle stump. Mumbai Indians are 182/5 now.

Arshdeep Singh to Sherfane Rutherford, Two dots in a row! Nails the wide yorker and keeps it just inside the tramline, Sherfane Rutherford leaves it alone but gets nothing from the umpire.

Arshdeep Singh to Sherfane Rutherford, Excellent yorker, on middle, tailing in, Sherfane Rutherford can only jam it out down the pitch.

Arshdeep Singh to Quinton de Kock, Full toss and outside off, Quinton de Kock forces it down to long off for a single.

Arshdeep Singh to Quinton de Kock, FOUR! Clever! Arshdeep Singh bowls the wide yorker, outside off. Quinton de Kock walks across, anticipating that. He switches his hands, makes it a full toss and scoops it over short third for a boundary.

Marco Jansen to Quinton de Kock, Nice and full again, outside off stump, punched away square through covers for a single. Great comeback from Jansen after being hit for a six on the first ball of the over.

Marco Jansen to Sherfane Rutherford, Another yorker on the money. Full and straight, Rutherford stays leg side of the ball and just about gets the bat down in time as the ball goes into the turf and towards short third for a single. It seems like Rutherford has broken his bat here and the 12th man comes out with a new bat.

Marco Jansen to Sherfane Rutherford, Oh, that's a top delivery. Speared right into the blockhole by Jansen, on middle and leg. Sherfane Rutherford does well to jam the bat down in time.

The next batter is Sherfane Rutherford.

Marco Jansen to Hardik Pandya, OUT! STUNNER IN THE DEEP! Now, that is a special, special catch, and it will take a lot to beat this one this season. Marco Jansen lands this short of a length and just around off. Hardik Pandya goes for the flat-batted shot again but loses his bottom hand and mistimes it high in the air towards long on. Shreyas Iyer from long on runs to his left, and while falling backwards, he grabs the ball above his head with both feet in the air. He gets enough hang time and has the presence of mind to throw the ball towards the incoming fielder from long off, where Xavier Bartlett takes it easily. The third umpire checks for the catch, and the replay shows it is a fair catch.

Is that the catch of the tournament? Shreyas Iyer might have just pulled off a real heist here and kudos to Xavier Bartlett as well for having the presence of mind. The third umpire is having a look at it and it seems like Iyer has managed to flick the ball in the nick of time. OUT comes up on the big screen, confirming the legality of the catch.

Marco Jansen to Hardik Pandya, Nails the yorker, outside off, angling away, Hardik Pandya is a bit late to get his bat down in time and misses.

Marco Jansen to Hardik Pandya, SIX! The MI skipper joins the party now! Short of a length and around off. Hardik Pandya is expecting that, stands tall and muscles it over the long off fence for a biggie.

Marco Jansen (3-0-22-) comes back in to bowl out as well.

Xavier Bartlett to Quinton de Kock, FOUR! HUNDRED FOR QDK! That is a special way to mark your first game of the season. His third IPL century. Xavier Bartlett bowls this fuller and outside off. Quinton de Kock changes his stance quickly and nails the reverse scoop past short third for a boundary.

Xavier Bartlett to Hardik Pandya, Cannot get it away! Full toss, on middle, angling in. Hardik Pandya heaves it away but towards deep mid-wicket for just one more. Pandya is struggling to get going here.

Xavier Bartlett to Quinton de Kock, Low full toss, outside off, Quinton de Kock gets across and drills it to long off for one.

Xavier Bartlett to Hardik Pandya, Digs it into the surface, just outside and takes pace off. Hardik Pandya can only swat it towards mid off for another run.

Xavier Bartlett to Quinton de Kock, In the blockhole, outside off, Quinton de Kock reaches out and digs it through covers for a run. He moves to 96 now.

Xavier Bartlett to Hardik Pandya, Back of a length and around off, Hardik Pandya backs away a bit and punches it through extra covers for a single.

STRATEGIC BREAK! Four overs left in the first innings and Mumbai Indians are going at exactly 10 runs an over. However, with batting to come, one would expect them to go on and get at least 50, if not more, in the next 4 overs. Quinton de Kock is just 5 runs away from a third IPL ton and Punjab Kings would love nothing more than to send him back to the pavilion quickly after the break. These last four overs could really make a huge difference for either side, so neither will be looking to back down. Let's get back to the action. Xavier Bartlett (3-0-30-0) is back on to finish his spell.

Shashank Singh to Hardik Pandya, Bangs this into the pitch, on off, Hardik Pandya flat-bats it down to long off for one more.

Shashank Singh to Quinton de Kock, Back of a length and around off, Quinton de Kock cuts it away through backward point for one.

Shashank Singh to Quinton de Kock, SIX! That has gone miles! Pitched up delivery, on middle and leg. Quinton de Kock steps across to get inside the line of it and slogs it high and handsomely over the deep square leg fence for half a dozen more. QDK moves into the 90s now.

Shashank Singh to Quinton de Kock, SIX! BOOM! Shashank Singh goes fuller and just around off, slower again. Quinton de Kock reads it early, waits for the ball to come to him, and dispatches it over the long off fence for a biggie.

Shashank Singh to Hardik Pandya, Short again and well outside off, takes pace off now. Hardik Pandya gets his bat above his head and forces it to extra cover for a single.

Shashank Singh to Hardik Pandya, Short of a length and outside off, Hardik Pandya slaps it away hard but straight to extra cover.

Arshdeep Singh to Hardik Pandya, Short of a length and on off, Pandya hangs back and pulls it down through square leg for one more.

Arshdeep Singh to Quinton de Kock, Over the infield. A full ball outside off, de Kock throws his hands at it and slices it over the point region for a run.

Arshdeep Singh to Quinton de Kock, De Kock is livid with himself and rightly so. Arshdeep looks to spear it across the off stump again but ends up serving a low full toss. QDK takes a step across to the off side and leans back to swing it over deep mid-wicket but misses and the ball sneaks under the willow.

Arshdeep Singh to Hardik Pandya, Back to over the wicket for the right-hander. This is dug in quick and short over leg stump, Pandya gets rushed and miscues the pull into the turf. The ball rolls to square leg and Pandya picks up a single.

Arshdeep Singh to Quinton de Kock, Singh comes around the wicket and uses the angle to spear a yorker across the off stump. De Kock digs it out through mid-wicket for just a single.

Arshdeep Singh to Quinton de Kock, WIDE! Attempted slower ball, well beyond the tramline outside off and left alone by de Kock as well.

Arshdeep Singh to Quinton de Kock, FOUR! Arshdeep errs on the fuller side and serves a wide full toss. QDK goes after it and slices it up and over backward point for a boundary.

Shashank Singh to Quinton de Kock, Back of a length and wide outside off, cut away to deep point for a single.

Shashank Singh to Hardik Pandya, Tap and run. Slower one on off, Hardik Pandya dabs the ball gently past the cut strip on the off side and jogs through for the single.

The golden arm of Shashank Singh strikes again. Skipper Hardik Pandya is the next man in.

Shashank Singh to Naman Dhir, OUT! CAUGHT! Xavier Bartlett nearly makes a mess of it but adjusts brilliantly and once again, Shashank Singh breaks a big stand. Good-length delivery, in and around off, Naman Dhir gets a stride in and whacks it flat towards long off. Bartlett in the deep, comes a bit too forward but backtracks quickly and leaps up to take a fine catch. End of a mammoth 122-run stand and a solid knock from Dhir as well.

Shashank Singh to Naman Dhir, Gentle-paced delivery, full and wide outside off, Dhir mistimes the drive straight to cover. A rare dot ball.

Shashank Singh to Quinton de Kock, Straight up in the air, but it lands safely. Dug in short and just outside off, around shoulder height. Quinton de Kock looks to pull but gets a top edge that goes nowhere and lands back over the non-striker's head. Neither the bowler nor the fielder at extra cover can get to it and a single is taken.

Shashank Singh to Naman Dhir, FIFTY for Naman Dhir, and this is his 2nd half-century in the IPL. Full and straight, hit away down to long on for a run. Dhir repays the faith shown in him by sending him up the order.

Shashank Singh has been handed over the ball now. He changed the last game for PBKS, getting the wickets of both Travis Head and Abhishek Sharma.

Marco Jansen to Naman Dhir, A wide and six singles in the over, Punjab will take it at this stage. Nearly yorker-length, on off, Dhir drills the drive through mid off for a single and moves to 49.

Marco Jansen to Quinton de Kock, Jansen stays around the wicket, pitches it full on the stumps, slower too. De Kock shanks the slog through mid-wicket and picks up a single.

Marco Jansen to Quinton de Kock, WIDE! Jansen comes around the wicket and serves a full toss down leg. Quinton de Kock fails to put it away and seems unhappy with himself.

Marco Jansen to Naman Dhir, One more, to make it four singles in four balls. Pitched up around off, Dhir stays leg side of the ball and smothers the attempted heave down to long on.

Marco Jansen to Quinton de Kock, Full and attacking the toes, de Kock clips it off the legs and gets it through backward square leg for a third straight single in the over.

Marco Jansen to Naman Dhir, Another pace off delivery, dug in fairly short and over leg stump, Dhir rocks back and controls the pull through square leg for one more.

Marco Jansen to Quinton de Kock, Slower delivery, on a good length and on off, de Kock glides it off the face of the bat and just wide of short third for a single.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Quinton de Kock, A bit of flight on it, but shorter and around off, de Kock hops back and just eases it down towards cover for an easy single.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Naman Dhir, Dragged length, on middle, swatted down to long on for a single.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Naman Dhir, SIX! Naman doesn't want to feel left out. Flatter one outside off, Dhir proactively steps out of his crease and nails the lofted shot over covers for a biggie.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Quinton de Kock, Tossed up again, full and on off and middle, drilled back past the bowler for a single down to long on.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Quinton de Kock, SIX! That's bread and butter for de Kock and the 100-run stand is also up between these two. Tossed-up delivery, on leg stump, de Kock gets a bit low, takes the front leg out and heaves it over deep square leg for a biggie.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Quinton de Kock, Oh, that's inventive from de Kock but it doesn't come off. Full and darted wide outside the off stump, Quinton de Kock goes for the reverse sweep but gets into a tangle and gets hit on the body.

Xavier Bartlett to Quinton de Kock, Pace off from Bartlett, slightly short as well. QDK waits back and dabs it down through short third for a single.

Xavier Bartlett to Naman Dhir, Hard length over middle, Dhir stays put and punches it down in front of mid-wicket for one more.

Xavier Bartlett to Quinton de Kock, A very full ball on off, squeezed away past the point region for a single.

Xavier Bartlett to Quinton de Kock, SIX! FETCH THAT! A cross-seamer from Bartlett, on a length and on leg stump. Quinton de Kock clears the front leg and whacks it away over the mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

Xavier Bartlett to Quinton de Kock, FOUR! Easy pickings. Pitched up fuller and wide outside off, de Kock laces the drive behind point and the ball runs away into the vacant fence. 100 UP FOR MI.

Xavier Bartlett to Quinton de Kock, Oh, that's too close for comfort. A full ball, on off stump, darts away a touch. Quinton de Kock looks to slog it across the line but misses and the ball misses the off pole by a whisker.

Xavier Bartlett replaces Vijaykumar Vyshak in the attack.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Quinton de Kock, Googly again, shortish and around off, Quinton de Kock pats it towards cover for one more.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Naman Dhir, Quicker and shorter, on leg, Naman Dhir chips it towards deep mid-wicket for one.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Quinton de Kock, FIFTY FOR QDK! He has grabbed his opportunity with both hands, playing a fine knock in his first game of the season. Flighted delivery, full and on middle, Quinton de Kock eases it to long on for a run. Now, he will look to convert this into a big one.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Quinton de Kock, SIX! Goes all the way! Yuzvendra Chahal tosses up the wrong'un, on leg, turns away too. Quinton de Kock skips down the track and smokes it against the spin over the deep mid-wicket fence for a biggie.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Quinton de Kock, Flatter, full and around leg, Quinton de Kock goes down and paddles it straight to short fine. A bit to either side and it would have been a boundary.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Quinton de Kock, Floated, full and on leg, Quinton de Kock comes forward a bit and clips it through mid-wicket for a couple of runs. With no fielder there, Chahal himself had to run after it but could not stop the second run.

Jayawardene says 180-190 looks par - Mahela Jayawardene, the head coach for MI, is up for a chat around the MI dugout. Mahela says that his side is prioritizing versatility to avoid becoming predictable, noting that the current duo out in the middle is successfully exploiting the shorter boundaries. He also informs that the pitch is holding slightly when bowling on a length, as suggested by QDK and Naman during the break, suggesting that while it isn't a 240-run surface, a total of 180-190 looks to be a par score on this quality T20 deck. Jayawardene highlights the importance of mental preparation during a hectic tournament schedule and identifies the Powerplay as a critical phase, with Quinton de Kock playing a pivotal role in dictating terms early. Furthermore, he expresses confidence in the team's depth, pointing out that several bowlers possess the batting ability to contribute lower down the order.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Quinton de Kock, Overpitched delivery, outside off, Quinton de Kock leans on and drills it through cover-point for one more.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Naman Dhir, A full toss, on middle, Naman Dhir swipes it away but straight towards deep mid-wicket for a run. Vyshak gets away with one there.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Quinton de Kock, Follows the batter, bowls this into the blockhole, outside off. Quinton de Kock jams it out to cover for a single.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Quinton de Kock, FOUR! Top shot! Short of a length and outside off again. Quinton de Kock accepts the width on offer but plays it late. He cuts it away beautifully between short third and backward point for a boundary.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Quinton de Kock, Vijaykumar Vyshak sees the batter wind up for the reverse scoop, serves this full and around off, takes pace off. QDK plays all over it, getting a toe-end back onto his pads as the ball goes nowhere.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Quinton de Kock, WIDE! Tries the wide yorker but gets it completely wrong, way outside off. Quinton de Kock lets it go.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Quinton de Kock, FOUR! Up and over! Fuller in length and well outside off, angling away. Quinton de Kock gets the chance to free his arms and reaches out to slice it over backward point for an easy boundary.

Xavier Bartlett to Quinton de Kock, Another full delivery, on off, Quinton de Kock once again opens the face of his bat and guides it through point. The fielder in the deep gets across to his right quickly to cut it out. Just one.

Xavier Bartlett to Naman Dhir, Pace off, pitched up and around off, Naman Dhir waits for it and drives it away to sweeper cover for one.

Xavier Bartlett to Quinton de Kock, Much fuller and just outside off, Quinton de Kock opens the face of his bat and squeezes it out towards deep point for another run.

Xavier Bartlett to Quinton de Kock, Slower one, on a length and on middle, Quinton de Kock tucks it away with soft hands towards the vacant mid-wicket region and comes back for the second run comfortably.

Xavier Bartlett to Naman Dhir, Full again and on middle, angling in, Naman Dhir drills it to long on for a run.

Xavier Bartlett to Quinton de Kock, Fuller and on off, Quinton de Kock drives it off the inner half of the bat to long on for a single.

STRATEGIC BREAK! It was a fine start from the Punjab pacers, conceding just 15 runs in the first 3 overs and Arshdeep Singh even picked up a couple of big wickets. However, since then, Mumbai Indians have managed to recover and the decision to send Naman Dhir up the order seems to be working out well for the hosts. With the game pretty much balanced right now, it will be interesting to see which side takes control of this first innings in the middle overs. Also, Xavier Bartlett is back into the attack. He went for 10 runs in his first over.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Quinton de Kock, Slows it up, full and around off, Quinton de Kock takes a big stride out and taps it towards cover for one. 19 runs off Chahal's first over!

Yuzvendra Chahal to Quinton de Kock, And again! A wrong 'un, short and around off, turns away a bit. Quinton de Kock once again leaves it alone. It is called a wide, but Punjab Kings have taken the review. The replay with Ball Tracking shows that the ball is inside the guideline. The on-field call of wide has been overturned.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Quinton de Kock, WIDE! Fires it short but way outside off, Quinton de Kock lets it go.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Quinton de Kock, FOUR! Gets it away! Yuzvendra Chahal drags his length back and just outside off. Quinton de Kock anticipates it early, rocks back and drags it away to the deep mid-wicket fence for a boundary. This also brings up the 50-run stand between these two batters.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Quinton de Kock, SIX! Quinton de Kock's turn now! Flighted delivery, full and on middle and leg. QDK goes down on one knee and nails the slog sweep over the deep mid-wicket fence for half a dozen more.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Naman Dhir, Flatter, shortish and angling into leg, Naman Dhir works it towards backward square leg for a run.

Yuzvendra Chahal to Naman Dhir, SIX! Welcome to the game, Yuzvendra Chahal! Tossed up, full and around middle. Naman Dhir gets himself leg side of the ball, and with a nice follow-through, tonks it over the bowler's head for a biggie and now that dropped catch will be hurting Chahal even more. 50 UP FOR MI.

Mumbai Indians end the Powerplay in style, but the first 6 overs still belong to the bowling side. There is a slight halt in play and it is because Shashank Singh has received a blow on the head. Replays show that while backing up on the last ball of the previous over, he got a bad bounce and the ball hit him on the head. The physio is out with the ice pack, and Singh is going off the field for now. Also, Yuzvendra Chahal comes into the attack now.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Naman Dhir, Overpitched and on off, Naman Dhir drills it towards mid off and calls for the run. He has to hurry but Iyer misses his shy once again. Mumbai Indians are 48/2 at the end of the Powerplay.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Naman Dhir, SIX! Better and bigger! Vyshak hits the length hard, on off, pace on this time. Naman Dhir stands tall, climbs onto it and launches it over the long on fence for a biggie. Dhir making the most of the last over of Powerplay.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Naman Dhir, FOUR! Put away! Vijaykumar Vyshak bangs this into the pitch, on middle, but once again does not bounce that much. Naman Dhir has a heave across the line, gets it from the inside half of the bat but wide of deep square leg for another boundary.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Naman Dhir, Short of a length and outside off, slower again, Naman Dhir reaches out and stabs it to extra cover.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Naman Dhir, FOUR! Nice shot! Back of a length and around off, takes pace off and keeps a bit low as well. Naman Dhir picks it up early, waits for it and swats it over mid-wicket for a boundary.

Vijaykumar Vyshak to Naman Dhir, Run out chance..missed! Fuller and on off, Naman Dhir drives it a bit too well straight to mid off. Quinton de Kock sets off for the run but is sent back but has no chance of getting back. Shreyas Iyer picks it up but misses his shy at the bowler's end. QDK had already given up but gets a life here.

Marco Jansen to Naman Dhir, A single to end the over, 8 off it. Back of a length and wide outside off, slapped away to deep backward point for a run.

Marco Jansen to Quinton de Kock, Drop and run. Good length on off, de Kock lets the ball come on before dropping it just into the off side with soft hands and he picks up a quick single.

Marco Jansen to Quinton de Kock, FOUR! Hammered! Dug in a bit short and wide of the off stump, Quinton de Kock extends his arms and slams the ball up and over mid off for a boundary.

Marco Jansen to Quinton de Kock, Full-pitched delivery outside off, drilled straight to mid off by de Kock.

Marco Jansen to Naman Dhir, DROPPED! Yuzvendra Chahal has put down a sitter and he's right away blaming this one on the lights. The off-cutter from Jansen, on a length and outside off. Naman Dhir shuffles to the off side and tries to lap it fine but miscues it towards short fine leg. Chahal lunges forward a bit but falls over to his left and fumbles the ball. Dhir, who has already started walking back, sees the dropped catch and pinches the single.

Marco Jansen to Quinton de Kock, Hard length around leg, Quinton de Kock dabs it around the corner on the leg side for a single.

Will Arshdeep Singh get a third over? No, change of ends for Marco Jansen.

Xavier Bartlett to Naman Dhir, That's well fielded in the deep from Shashank Singh. Good length on the stumps, clipped away firmly through square leg. Singh runs to his left from deep backward square leg and puts in the dive to save a couple of runs for his side.

Xavier Bartlett to Quinton de Kock, A length ball on leg, tucked down behind square leg for a single.

Xavier Bartlett to Quinton de Kock, Pitched up on a fuller length, on middle and leg, de Kock clears the front leg and heaves it through the gap at mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

Xavier Bartlett to Naman Dhir, Short of a length, wide outside off, hit up and over backward point without any real timing for a run.

Xavier Bartlett to Naman Dhir, FOUR! A hand on it, but the power on the shot is just too much. Length ball on the pads, Naman Dhir keeps still and half-whips it across to the left of mid-wicket. The fielder dives but the ball bounces off the arm and rolls away behind into the fence. Cracking shot.

Xavier Bartlett to Naman Dhir, Fuller than a good length, attacking the stumps, Dhir plays it back to the bowler.

First bowling change. Xavier Bartlett replaces Marco Jansen.

Arshdeep Singh to Naman Dhir, Oh, a risky single but the batters make it through. Good length on middle, worked away to mid-wicket for one. Cooper Connolly has a shy at the bowler's end but misses as Dhir dives into safety.

Arshdeep Singh to Naman Dhir, Fuller in length, just outside off, Naman Dhir blocks it out to covers.

Arshdeep Singh to Naman Dhir, Back of a length, outside off, played off the back foot and eased away past point for a couple of runs.

Arshdeep Singh to Naman Dhir, No hat-trick! The in-between length again from Singh and he gets it to swing back into the pads. Naman Dhir nudges it down to square leg.

Who comes out to face the hat-trick ball? It will be Naman Dhir.

Arshdeep Singh to Suryakumar Yadav, OUT! CAUGHT! Make that 101 IPL wickets for Arshdeep Singh, and he's on fire here. Singh pitches the ball fuller and in the channel outside off. Gets it to shape away in the air as well and Suryakumar Yadav is drawn into the drive. SKY plays away from the body and ends up getting a hefty outside edge. The ball doesn't quite fly off the bat but rather gets lobbed towards short third, where Yuzvendra Chahal hangs onto the catch. Arshdeep on a hat-trick and MI are rocked early.

Early blow for Mumbai Indians. Suryakumar Yadav walks out to bat at number 3.

Arshdeep Singh to Ryan Rickelton, OUT! CAUGHT! A soft dismissal for Ryan Rickelton and Arshdeep Singh brings up 100 IPL WICKETS. Arshdeep even has a bit of a smile on his face as he knows he's picked up a wicket off a rather poor delivery. This is bowled short and angled down leg, Rickelton gets his hands out in front and flicks it aerially but straight down to deep square leg, where Shashank Singh takes a good catch just over his head. Mumbai are 12/1.

Marco Jansen to Quinton de Kock, Back of a length and outside off, not much room to cut and Quinton de Kock ends up chopping it down in front of point.

Marco Jansen to Quinton de Kock, Oh, that's nearly cut de Kock in half. Back of a length, on off, seams back in sharply but stays a shade low. Quinton is taken aback as he gets beaten past the inside edge.

Marco Jansen to Quinton de Kock, Pitched up, a bit fuller and around off, de Kock leans on to defend.

Marco Jansen to Quinton de Kock, FOUR LEG BYES! Overcorrection from Jansen, full and on the pads. De Kock misses the flick and the ball brushes the pads, running away to the fine leg fence.

Marco Jansen to Quinton de Kock, SIX! Well, that's one way to kickstart the new campaign from Quinton de Kock. Good-length delivery, too wide outside off, de Kock bends his back knee and wallops it over deep cover-point for a six to get underway.

Marco Jansen to Ryan Rickelton, Nice and full, lands it outside off, Rickelton leans on and drives it off the inside half of the blade to mid off for a quick single.

A fantastic first over from Arshdeep Singh. Another left-armer, Marco Jansen, will share the new ball.

Arshdeep Singh to Ryan Rickelton, Finally, Rickelton and Mumbai Indians are off the mark, but it's a brilliant start for Punjab. A tad shorter and outside off, Rickelton waits back and angles it away down to the right of backward point for a single. Just one off the first over.

Arshdeep Singh to Ryan Rickelton, No run there either, five dots now. Pitched up on off, shapes away, Ryan Rickelton drives on the up but straight to mid off.

Arshdeep Singh to Ryan Rickelton, Lovely start from Singh, four dots in a row, three of them beating the bat as well. Pitched up full and outside off, drawing the drive out from the batter. Rickelton looks to stroke it through covers but is well beaten by the swing.

Arshdeep Singh to Ryan Rickelton, Oh, that's nicely bowled. Fuller this time and on a tighter line around off, swings away. Rickelton looks to play at it with a straight bat but the ball beats the outside edge.

Arshdeep Singh to Ryan Rickelton, Bowled back of a length and outside off, shapes away again, Rickelton lets the ball come onto him before tapping it down to short third.

Arshdeep Singh to Ryan Rickelton, Oh, a bit of swing right away for Arshdeep. Good-length delivery, just outside off, seams away from the left-hander. Rickelton has a push at it but misses.

We are all set to begin! The Wankhede is alive with energy, a sea of blue flags fluttering as the crowd gets firmly behind their team. Out walk the two umpires, with the Punjab Kings players following, led by the local boy Shreyas Iyer as they fan out into their fielding positions. With Rohit Sharma missing, the Mumbai Indians will rely on an all-Protea opening duo of Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock. Arshdeep Singh has the new ball in hand and looks ready to get things underway. Let's play...

Impact Sub options for PBKS - Nehal Wadhera, Vishnu Vinod, Harpreet Brar, Suryansh Shedge, and Yash Thakur.

Punjab Kings (Unchanged XI) - Prabhsimran Singh (WK), Priyansh Arya, Cooper Connolly, Shreyas Iyer (C), Shashank Singh, Marcus Stoinis, Marco Jansen, Xavier Bartlett, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Arshdeep Singh, and Yuzvendra Chahal.

Impact Sub options for MI - AM Ghazanfar, Corbin Bosch, Raj Bawa, Robin Minz, and Ashwani Kumar.

Mumbai Indians (Playing XI) - Quinton de Kock (WK) (In for Rohit Sharma), Ryan Rickelton, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya (C), Sherfane Rutherford (In for Mitchell Santner), Naman Dhir, Mayank Rawat (In for Trent Boult), Shardul Thakur, Deepak Chahar (In for Mayank Markande), and Jasprit Bumrah.

The skipper of Mumbai Indians - Hardik Pandya says that they would have bowled first as well, but it's a good toss to lose. Adds that it is a good time to get a win and knows that they have lost those big moments and a few tweaks will help. Mentions that in the last game they went for 4 overs in which they conceded 20 or more runs, and that is simply unacceptable. Informs that Rohit Sharma is out and will take a couple of games to get back, and also Mitchell Santner is unwell. This brings Quinton de Kock back into the team and it is a debut for Mayank Rawat.

The captain of Punjab Kings - Shreyas Iyer says that they have got a brilliant start to the IPL, and any captain would like to be in this position. Adds that the combination have been working well but they need to maintain the rhythm and momentum. Iyer mentions that he just asks his players to stay in the present and be proactive. It's easy to be complacent but this is a fast-paced game. Says that a few of his players said that with the dew later on, it becomes better for batting so that was also a factor to bowl first. Informs they are going with the same team.

TOSS - Toss time in Mumbai. Rohit Sharma is out there in the middle but is in his joggers, so he might play as the Impact Sub. The two captains, Hardik Pandya and Shreyas Iyer, are also out in the middle. The home skipper, Pandya, gives it a flick and Iyer calls 'Tails.' It lands as 'Tails,' and Punjab Kings will BOWL first.

A few words with MI's Protea all-rounder - Corbin Bosch starts by talking about Mumbai Indians' current struggles and feels like they are not panicking right now and mentions that they faced a similar situation last season and were able to get on a winning run, but does feel that it will be great to get a win today. Bosch also talks about the game and feels that they need to be clinical in all three departments to beat this unbeaten Punjab Kings side, which will be a tough ask, but feels that MI have the cavalry to do it. He also talks about the Wankhede pitch and knows that it favors the batters and hence, it is crucial to use those yorkers and those variations. He ends by saying that he feels great to be a part of this franchise and is looking fopreard to the rest of the campaign.

A quick chat with 'The Hulk' - Marcus Stoinis says that it's a nice feeling around the group, and every team wants to start the tournament well. Adds that they know they are playing a dangerous side here, one of the most successful teams in the league, hard to beat at this ground but they are looking forward to the challenge. Stoinis mentions that sometimes it can feel quiet when you don't have to do much, but he does his training regularly to keep himself ready for the moments. Tells that this has been a high-scoring venue, and bowlers may have to go death-bowling early on, but also be brave with the new ball, getting some movement and put the opposition under pressure with early wickets. It is all about assessing the conditions as quickly as you can. Marcus shares that you enjoy the fact that you are unbeaten, enjoy the atmosphere in the team, which has been on fire but also respect each team, as in a tournament like this, anyone can beat anyone.

THIS JUST IN - It looks from the live visuals that Mayank Rawat is getting his maiden IPL cap for Mumbai Indians, so he will be in the lineup today. Whether he starts or comes in as an Impact Sub, we will know in due time.

PITCH REPORT - Former Kiwi pacer, Danny Morrison, is pitchside, standing at the Southern End. He says that the square boundary to his right is 61 meters, while the other side is 67 meters, and the straight hit is 75 meters. Former Aussie skipper, Michael Clarke, joins him and says that it looks like a fantastic wicket. Adds that there is good coverage of grass, which keeps pace on the wicket, good for batting and bowling. Mentions that there might be some extra pace with the new ball, but teams will look to chase because of a bit of dew. He expects it to be a high-scoring contest.

Another run-fest loading? We all know Wankhede is a venue where the ball flies more often than not and both teams have such a lethal batting lineup that any score under 200 seems unlikely. But, you never know and if a couple of bowlers have a good day, that could prove to be the difference. Stay tuned as the toss and teams sheets aren't far away now.

With big names, comes bigger expectations - Mumbai Indians are five-time champions, they are a star-studded side as well, and they have been historical slow starters, but they will be feeling the heat right now. Look at the names in their lineup, most of them serial winners, but they only have a win in four games to show for it thus far. A big blow for them is the injury Rohit Sharma picked up in the last game and according to the latest reports, his availability for this game is under wraps and no one knows whether he's fit or not. Also, just like Arshdeep Singh, even Jasprit Bumrah is struggling, not for form but for wickets and he's picked up none in the first four matches, but he's barely been handed the new ball. Maybe a few tweaks are on the cards for Mumbai.

The Kings look ominous - Punjab Kings might have failed to cross the final hurdle last season, but they look hungrier than ever and determined to finally get their hands on that coveted trophy. The coach-captain combination of Rickey Ponting and Shreyas Iyer seems to be doing wonders for them and they will be eager to continue their sublime start to the season and even zoom to the top of the table with a win. The only real concern for them will be the form of the pace attack, especially that of their lead pacer Arshdeep Singh, who has been all over the place this season.

Midweek madness in Mumbai - Hello and a warm welcome to the iconic Wankhede Stadium, where Mumbai Indians are set to host Punjab Kings in what is set to be a rematch of last season's Qualifier 2, in which the Kings prevailed in a high-scoring affair. Tonight, the hosts will look to use that loss as a catalyst as they look to break the run of three successive losses against the only unbeaten side left in the competition. Should be a thrilling encounter.

... MATCH DAY ...

Thrillers, heartbreaks, history - Since the early days of the IPL, Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings have repeatedly found themselves at the centre of some of the tournament’s most breathless, nerve-shredding encounters. Remember Wankhede 2019? MI needed 133 off 60 balls, three wickets down, chips firmly down. Kieron Pollard had other ideas. His volcanic 83 off 31 balls bulldozed Punjab into submission, overshadowing what was an otherwise magnificent century from KL Rahul. The very next year, Dubai 2020 refused to lie down. One Super Over settled nothing in a middling chase of 177. Punjab Kings finally got their moment in the second, walking away from one of the most gloriously unhinged finishes IPL had ever witnessed. And then 2025 twisted the knife. Punjab did the double over Mumbai across the season, but the one that truly stung came when it mattered most. Qualifier 2, Ahmedabad. Season on the line for both. Punjab chased down 204 with something to spare, knocking Mumbai Indians out in cold, ruthless fashion. Box-office clash in City of Dreams - Back to present. Punjab Kings arrive at the Wankhede flying high with momentum. Three wins from four, one game washed out, and still the only unbeaten side in the competition. Whereas Mumbai Indians, the perennial slow starters find themselves in the bottom end, with just one win of four. But more importantly, have had a hat trick of defeats and would look to turn things around at the Wankhede this time around. Will Rohit play? Against RCB in their previous game, Rohit retired out mid-innings and limped off with a hamstring stress, never returning to the field. The reports since haven’t been encouraging. He missed MI’s latest net session, putting his participation here in serious doubt. Scans have returned no conclusive evidence of a tear, which offers a sliver of relief, but the bigger question remains unanswered. If Rohit does not take the field, MI face a selection headache they could do without. Quinton de Kock has been warming the bench, and a return for the South African would come at a cost, an overseas spot sacrificed from down the order. For a batting unit that has found consistency hard to come by this season, it’s indeed a big headache. But all these are just speculations, honestly. Should a wicketless Bumrah worry MI? How often do you see Jasprit Bumrah on a wicketless streak? Not often. But here we are. Five matches without a breakthrough, four in this season and one from the previous edition, with 122 consecutive balls going wicket-less. And yet, Bumrah remains one of MI’s most economical bowlers this season. His 8.35 economy against RCB, on a night every other bowler was being taken apart, tells you everything about where his skills and control stand. Former Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin offered a perspective worth sitting with. At high-scoring venues like the Wankhede, Bumrah’s ability to nail yorkers and strangle the run rate is arguably more valuable than his wicket tally. Ashwin also pointed to Lasith Malinga’s thinking on defensive bowling partnerships. A bowler’s wicket-taking ability is only as good as the partners handing the over to him. And that is precisely where MI have come unstuck. Batters have quietly made peace with seeing Bumrah off, playing him conservatively rather than taking him on. The result? The pressure simply shifts to the other end, and those bowlers have not held up. Trent Boult, Hardik himself, the Chahar-Shardul duo. The runs have leaked, the partnerships have not clicked, and Bumrah’s tight spells have counted for far less than they should. Batting problems - MI have conceded 200 or more twice in four games, which tells its own story about a bowling unit that hasn't clicked. But the batting numbers complicate the picture. They chased 221 against KKR and fell just 22 short of 241 against RCB. The runs are there, the intent is there, and yet it hasn't been enough. That is perhaps the most frustrating part of MI's season so far. Rohit and Rickelton lead the run-scoring respectively up top, with SKY and Rutherford's blitz adding firepower at decent strike rates. These are the four batters for MI in triple figures, all contributing when called upon. But Tilak Varma's silence is deafening. One of MI's brightest, most trusted batting prospects has managed just 35 runs in four matches, with his strike rate taking a hit too. And then there is Hardik. All or nothing, no in-between. The Kings’ crown stays unchallenged - Punjab Kings have chased in all their completed games so far, and have made an art of it. Not nervously tiptoeing over the line, but hunting targets down with an authority. An 8-ball win against CSK chasing 210, followed by a 7-ball win against SRH chasing 220. The reason is no secret. A top order that has been both consistent and relentlessly aggressive. Prabhsimran Singh and Priyansh Arya have made life miserable for opposition bowlers at the top, with Arya in particular operating in a different atmosphere altogether, striking at 264.10 across three matches. Below them, Cooper Connolly brings steadiness at number three, and then comes Shreyas Iyer, leading from the front in every sense. The captain tops Punjab's run-scoring charts with 137 runs, back-to-back match-winning half centuries. The effect has been significant. With the top order routinely doing the heavy lifting, the middle order has been able to breathe, settle, and play their natural game rather than walking in under pressure. Bowlers need to tighten up - If there’s anything worrying for the Punjab Kings right now is the leakage of runs. But the thing is, with the kind of pitches offered, even the best bowling attacks have been taken to the cleaners, and PBKS’s is no exception. Arshdeep Singh, one of their premier bowlers, has gone for too many. With just 2 wickets so far, he has gone for 10.64 on average. Yuzvendra Chahal has been the outlier, as frugal as ever with an economy of 8.2, while Vyshak Vijaykumar leads the wicket-taking charts for Punjab with five. Beyond those two, the bowling has been inconsistent at best. That is the grey area, and on a ground like the Wankhede, grey areas have a habit of turning red very quickly. Team form (Last 5 completed matches, recent first) MI - LLLWL | PBKS - WWWLW. Let’s crunch some numbers - 17-17 in 34 matches. That’s what the head-to-head record reads between Mumbai Indians and Punjab Kings. Nothing separates these two sides across the history of this rivalry, and the Wankhede offers no extra clarity either. 5 wins apiece from 10 meetings at this ground, a dead split that makes this contest the perfect tiebreaker. The two sides are facing each other at this venue after nearly three years, with the last encounter here in 2023 going Punjab's way. Mumbai will remember that, which makes this a delicious one to watch out.