What Happened Last Time When KKR Battled MI In IPL 2024?

KKR emerged victorious in Mumbai. (X)KKR emerged victorious in Mumbai. (X)

The Mumbai Indians (MI) and the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) have a historically one-sided rivalry in the IPL, with MI winning 23 games and KKR managing only 10 victories. However, this year, the tables have turned, with KKR sitting at the top of the table while MI is already out of the playoffs race. 

In their earlier clash at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, KKR defeated the five-time champions, marking a small shift in their head-to-head record. The Knight Riders ended their win drought at the venue with a 24-run victory, snapping their seven-game losing streak against MI at the Wankhede Stadium, which dated back to 2012.

When MI Faced KKR In Mumbai

In the high-octane clash, Mumbai got off to a strong start courtesy of their 'slinga'. Nuwan Thushara bagged three quick wickets in the Powerplay, dismantling KKR's top order. Phil Salt, Shreyas Iyer, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi struggled to find their rhythm with the bat. 

MI's spin duo of Naman Dhir and the experienced Piyush Chawla further compounded Kolkata's troubles in the middle overs, with Chawla dismissing Rinku Singh. 

However, Venkatesh Iyer and impact substitute Manish Pandey steadied Kolkata's innings with an 83-run partnership, injecting momentum into their chase. But once Pandey departed, Kolkata's scoring rate slowed and they could score only 169 on a flat looking Wankhede track.

MI falter despite SKY's brilliance

Mumbai began their chase of 170 cautiously, with Ishan Kishan showing promise. However, both he and Naman Dhir fell quickly. 

Rohit Sharma's early dismissal further compounded Mumbai's woes, leaving them struggling with three wickets down for less than 50 runs within the Powerplay. Despite a brief resistance from Suryakumar Yadav, Mumbai faced a roadblock after Tilak Varma's dismissal. Skipper Hardik Pandya failed to make an impact with the bat which added to Mumbai's troubles. 

However, SKY found his rhythm and, with Tim David's support, shifted gears, reaching his fifty quickly. This momentum swing brought the home back into the game, but SKY's dismissal at a crucial moment changed the course of the match. David's departure shortly after dashed Mumbai's hopes of a comeback, ultimately resulting in their defeat.