The TATA Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 started well; in match No.2, the Mumbai Indians (MI) beat the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 6 wickets. It was their first win in the first game of the IPL after 14 years.

MI faced KKR at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. MI won the toss and elected to field first. KKR opened with captain Ajinkya Rahane and Finn Allen, and were off to a flying start, scoring 78 in the powerplay.

KKR openers gave a good start

It was that one over with Rahane smashing 26 of Hardik Pandya’s second over. Allen lost after giving the start the Knights needed, scoring 37 off 17 balls as Shardul Thakur got the breakthrough.

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Thakur also picked the second wicket for the side, with Cameron Green going back scoring 18 off 10 balls. Rahane was back in the dugout after scoring 67 off 40 balls. Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Rinku Singh then controlled the game a bit and gave KKR back the momentum.

The former scored a half-century and was dismissed at the score of 51 off 29 balls. Rinku finished off with the score of 33 off 21 balls, and KKR finished off with a decent total of 220/4.

Rohit Sharma show at the Wankhede Stadium

Coming out to chase Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton gave MI a fiery start; both batters took charge in the power play. The former scored a half-century of 50 off 22 balls and looked dangerous in the run chase. During the game, the Knights’ skipper, Rahane, limped off the field, and Rinku Singh took over the captaincy. MI was 80/0 in the power play.

MI scored a hundred-run partnership for the first wicket. The two openers looked in blistering form and smacked the KKR bowlers all over the park. Rohit was dismissed on the score of 78 off 38 deliveries, and he was absolutely rampant on the night. The first wicket fell after 148 runs on the board, and MI won the game with five balls to spare.

But these boys will learn- Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane gave an update about his injury during the post-match presentation, and he felt okay, and it was just a cramp. He backed his bowlers despite a poor performance. He also gave an update on Cameron Green not bowling in the match.

Rahane said, “Feeling okay but lot of cramps, especially my calves. Hopefully I’ll be okay. It was really tough [for bowlers]. Inexperienced bowling attack, but these boys will learn. Strong batting lineup. So it’s a learning curve. I thought MI batted well. So our bowlers will definitely learn. [On playing the way at his age] I’m still young, KP [Kevin Pietersen].”

“But yeah really happy with the way I am batting in the moment. Hopefully Green starts to bowl soon and the combination will be slightly different. We batted really well but finding that balance with the ball is really important. [On why Green can’t bowl] That question you need to ask Cricket Australia.”

He concluded saying, “[On positives] We batted well and I thought Kartik Tyagi bowled well. Played after a while but he was really good. Lot of positives and long way to go.”

Also Read: IPL Points Table 2026: Updated Standings, Orange Cap, Purple Cap After MI vs KKR Match No.2

PALANPUR: A 36-year-old woman was allegedly murdered by a woman she had trusted for years in Palanpur in Gujarat’s Banaskantha district, in an incident that has raised serious questions about trust.The victim, Shantiben Akedivala, a resident of Chanakyapuri Society in Palanpur city, was allegedly killed in a premeditated manner over a dispute involving around 790 grams of gold, silver jewellery and Rs 2 lakh in cash.According to police, the prime accused, Rekha Rathod, had been associated with the Akedivala family for nearly fifteen years, working in household chores and cooking, and had won their complete confidence.Rekha Rathod, who is also engaged in the furniture business in the Hanuman Tekri area, had maintained close contact with Shantiben. About a year ago, Shantiben had reportedly helped Rekha Rathod during a time of need by giving her gold and silver ornaments along with cash. Over time, when Shantiben began asking for the return of the money and jewellery, tensions arose between the two.On the night of March 22, around 8 pm, Shantiben went to Rekha Rathod’s furniture shop, where, according to investigators, a murder conspiracy had already been planned. Rekha Rathod, along with her husband and two other accomplices, allegedly murdered Shantiben in a brutal manner.They first intoxicated her, then strangled her using a clutch wire used in bikes.

After the murder, the accused reportedly stuffed the body into a sack and dumped it in a deserted drain in an attempt to destroy evidence.Following the filing of a complaint, the Palanpur City West Police swung into action and launched a swift investigation. The police have arrested the main accused Rekha Rathod along with her husband and two others.

Mumbai Indians (MI) got an enthralling victory over the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium after a high-scoring encounter. Hardik Pandya’s side chased down the target of 221 runs successfully and won the match by 6 wickets and 5 balls to spare. It was a crucial victory for the Mumbai Indians, as they had a reputation for losing the opening match of their campaign since 2012.

After the match, MI skipper Hardik Pandya joined the post-match presentation ceremony, and for obvious reasons, he looked happy and confident. Pandya himself was on the crease when his team hit the winning runs. But it was Shardul Thakur who shifted the momentum of the match under immense pressure.

KKR registered a handsome total on the board

Went to bat first, KKR registered 220 runs in exchange for 4 wickets in 20 overs. They could have scored more than that, but experienced seam bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur put a speed breaker in front of the opposing team batters. For the Knight Riders, their skipper Ajinkya Rahane scored the highest, 67 runs off 40 balls, and their emerging keeper-batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi smashed 51 in 29 balls.

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Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton were in stunning form against the Kolkata Knight Riders.

MI chased down the stiff target smoothly because of Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton. The opening pair set up the foundation for the team by securing 148 runs before losing their first batter. While Ryan Rickelton scored 81 off 43, Rohit Sharma got 78 off 38. It was the sixth-highest successful run chase in IPL.

Shardul Thakur was named Player of the Match for his effective bowling spells. The pacer took the wickets of Ajinkya Rahane, Finn Allen, and Cameron Green in his 4-over spell, in exchange for 39 runs.

Highest successful IPL run-chases
262 – PBKS vs KKR, Kolkata, 2024
246 – SRH vs PBKS, Hyderabad, 2025
228 – RCB vs LSG, Lucknow, 2025
224 – RR vs PBKS, Sharjah, 2020
224 – RR vs KKR, Kolkata, 2024
221 – MI vs KKR, Wankhede, 2026*

Hardik Pandya, in his statement, said it was hard for them to select Ryan Rickelton as the opening partner for Rohit Sharma, as they also have another prolific opener in Quinton de Kock. The skipper also claimed that he is happy to see Shardul Thakur playing in the Mumbai Indian jersey after switching multiple franchises in the past.

Hardik Pandya said, “It’s been a long wait. 13 years is a long time. Very glad, the whole team is very glad that we were finally able to do it. We have seen what this wicket plays like. We knew the wicket was good. 220 is always gettable. Ro and Rickeleon were brilliant.”

“To see that, very nice. Ryan has done really well for this franchise. Quinny (Quinton de Kock) understands that. (On Rohit) It’s a treat. (On Shardul Thakur) I said to him enough hopping of franchises. He has a big heart, really happy for him,” Hardik Pandya said after the match.

Read More: IPL Points Table 2026: Updated Standings, Orange Cap, Purple Cap After MI vs KKR Match No.2

Mumbai: Public hearings for the 23-km-long Versova-Bhayander coastal road were not held specifically for the fishing communities because the road does not run through any fishing villages, said BMC officials. But the potential impact of creekside construction and mangrove loss on their livelihoods has been recognised and will be compensated, they added.Authorities are commissioning the Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute in Versova to conduct a socio-economic impact assessment, including baseline surveys and identification of affected persons. Compensation, rehabilitation, and mitigation measures will be implemented based on the study recommendations, an official added. Fisherfolk say the surveys have not yet begun, even though construction work has started. Some 103 hectares of mangrove land will be affected by the construction. Despite protests, the BMC claims the transport benefits of the Versova-Bhayander coastal road will outweigh the costs to local ecology. The project cost-benefit analysis had found that 50 lakh people will benefit per day from the road. Asked how this figure was calculated, officials said the numbers were based on regional mobility and service population analysis. “The project serves a combined projected population of approximately 2.15–2.20 crore (21-22 million) across Mumbai Metropolitan Region,” an official said, adding, “The estimate represents a reasonable proportion (around 25%) of the population benefiting through improved connectivity, reduced travel time, and enhanced transport efficiency.“The protests over the road highlights the gap between environmental assessments on paper and community experiences. For instance, although Versova residents say several heritage trees in the Nana Nani park will be cut for the project, the BMC claims otherwise. “A detailed tree inventory was undertaken assessing parameters such as girth, species, and ecological significance. Based on Maharashtra Tree Authority norms, no trees within the project area qualify as heritage trees, as they do not meet the criteria of age, size, rarity, or cultural significance,” said an official. Similarly, while the diversion of 103 hectares of mangrove land will affect many species of birds, small mammals, and insects that make their home there, officials said the project area does not fall within any notified protected area, making wildlife clearances unnecessary. “The nearest protected areas—Sanjay Gandhi National Park (around 4 km away) and Thane Creek Flamingo Sanctuary (around 15 km away)—are at sufficient distance,” an official said. Most of the affected mangroves are categorised as protected or reserved forest. Authorities have also said that almost 37,000 of the 45,000 mangrove trees to be cut will be eventually restored after road work is complete. A 308 crore restoration plan has been given to Mangrove and Marine Biodiversity Conservation Foundation of Maharashtra (Mangrove Foundation), and will include plantation, habitat restoration, biodiversity conservation, shoreline monitoring, and use of advanced technologies for ecological management. Mangrove plantation is challenging, however, and success rates often low. Asked if BMC had successfully restored or planted any significant patch of mangrove, officials pointed to the 1998 mangrove replantation project for the World Bank-aided Ghatkopar & Bhandup Aerated Lagoons projects. That plantation was carried out by Soonabai Phirojsha Godrej Foundation Trust at their Vikhroli land. Still, an official acknowledged that “this project represents restoration at an unprecedented scale.“

England’s captain Ben Stokes (AP/PTI)

Ben Stokes’ return to competitive cricket has been pushed back, with the England Test captain set to miss Durham County Cricket Club’s opening County Championship fixture against Kent County Cricket Club. The all-rounder is still recovering from a serious facial injury sustained earlier this year.

England cricketer Ben Stokes suffered injuries after being struck on the face by a cricket ball during a training session. (stokesy/Instagram via PTI Photo)(PTI02_05_2026_000466B)

Stokes had suffered the blow in early February when a ball struck him flush on the face while he was standing close to a net session involving Durham’s academy players. The impact resulted in a fractured cheekbone, and images he later shared on social media showed visible facial damage. Surgery followed soon after the incident.