In one of the most electric season openers in recent memory, Rohit Sharma walked out at Wankhede Stadium and made an immediate impact, not just by winning the match, but by rewriting the record books.
Mumbai Indians defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets, chasing down a stiff 221-run target with five balls to spare. Rohit led from the front with a blistering 78 off just 39 balls, putting KKR’s bowlers to the sword and surpassing Virat Kohli’s long-standing record for the most IPL runs scored against a single franchise.
Rohit Breaks Kohli’s Record: Most IPL Runs Against a Single Team
The record in question was for the most runs scored against any single franchise across all IPL seasons. Kohli held it with 1,159 runs against PBKS accumulated over 17 years. Rohit overtook that tally during his knock against KKR, reaching 1,161 runs across 36 matches against the three-time champions.
Rohit has also set the record for the most runs scored against Kolkata in IPL history, overtaking former captain David Warner, who scored 1,093 runs against KKR.
Rohit Sharma’s Fastest-Ever IPL Fifty: A Career Milestone at 38
The knock wasn’t just about the record, it was a statement of intent. Rohit Sharma reached his half-century in just 23 deliveries against KKR, marking the quickest fifty of his IPL career. His previous best had come in 2015, when he brought up the milestone in 25 balls during the final against Chennai Super Kings.
It was also Hitman’s 50th half-century in the Indian Premier League, joining an elite list of players with 50 or more fifty-plus scores in IPL history, becoming only the fourth to reach the milestone after Virat Kohli (72), David Warner (66), and Shikhar Dhawan (53).
KKR’s Strong Total Not Enough to Stop the Hitman
Earlier in the game, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane hit a fine half-century, and it was debutant Angkrish Raghuvanshi who lit up the stadium with a 29-ball 51 to help KKR post 220 for four. Shardul Thakur took 3/39 and emerged as the top wicket-taker for the Mumbai Indians.
Rohit Sharma – A Legend Who Just Keeps Writing New Chapters!
Rohit is also the second leading scorer in the tournament’s history with 7,124 runs in 273 fixtures, averaging 29.93, including 48 half-centuries and two hundreds. At 38, the Hitman shows no signs of slowing down, and KKR, once again, bore the brunt of his brilliance.
