The T20 format is built for momentum—something fans can enjoy at full speed and finish within a typical evening window. Yet the Mumbai Indians vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru contest in IPL 2026 refused to play by those usual rules. The toss happened at 7:00 pm IST, and play stretched until after 11:45 pm, meaning the final delivery arrived well past the traditional finish line. Some reports suggested the match ran for 4 hours and 23 minutes, which placed it among the longest IPL games that did not go to a Super Over.
Off the field, the extended duration sparked plenty of chatter, including a playful remark from Joy Bhattacharjya. Earlier associated with Kolkata Knight Riders as their Team Director, he took to X to underline the absurdly long nature of the game, writing that it was “another record for the IPL,” and teasing that it was the first match to be longer than “Dhurandhar 2.” In the same vein, he referenced the runtime of Dhurandhar: The Revenge, describing it as hovering around 3 hours and 50 minutes—turning the comparison into a humorous bit for cricket followers.
That light-hearted angle was echoed by another response on the same date, with a user agreeing in a similarly tongue-in-cheek manner—suggesting that “wide reviews” themselves were “Dhurandhar 1.” While the jokes kept coming, the on-field story was driven by RCB’s determination to keep Mumbai’s batters under pressure, and by Bengaluru’s ability to post a total that looked increasingly difficult to chase as the innings progressed.
Royal Challengers Bengaluru captain Rajat Patidar, speaking to reflect on the team’s rhythm, said he felt proud of how consistently they had been executing. He pointed out that putting up totals of 200-plus time and again is a clear signal of the talent within the squad, and that the confidence built from those scores is now feeding into their performances.
RCB’s latest display confirmed that confidence. They continued their strong run in IPL 2026 with an 18-run win over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, while also recording what was described as their highest-ever total at that venue. Bengaluru’s batting was powered by Phil Salt, who blazed through the innings with 78 off just 36 balls and earned Player of the Match honours. Patidar then delivered a captain’s knock, contributing 53 off 20 deliveries to help set a platform that left MI chasing from a position of constant pressure.
On the bowling side, Krunal Pandya and Suyash Sharma were central to turning the chase into a task that became harder with every over. Krunal finished with figures of 1/26, while Suyash Sharma returned 2/47, with both bowlers playing key roles in limiting Mumbai’s options and slowing down the run flow at crucial stages.
Patidar was also direct about what the batting unit has been feeling as a collective. He said that, for the moment, it feels as though Bengaluru are scoring 200-plus in every match, adding that it gives him substantial confidence as a captain. He stressed that the squad’s belief in their own structure has become a real advantage, especially when the team is asked to defend a target at the highest level of T20 intensity.
Asked about his own approach, Patidar explained that he does not overthink the plan before stepping out. Instead, he tries to respond to the ball and stay clear about the intention—what shot he wants to play and which bowler he wants to attack. He also said that even while watching from the dugout, he tries to read where the scoring opportunities are likely to open up, so he can be ready to act quickly when his turn comes.
Spinner Krunal Pandya added his perspective on the team’s winning mindset, emphasising that every match has to be earned. He highlighted how the batting group has been contributing across the lineup, mentioning Virat, Salt and Tim, and noting that each of them added value in different moments. Krunal was particularly pleased with Salt’s powerplay counter-attacking, saying it set up the innings in a way that made the later overs more manageable.
Finally, Krunal underlined Patidar’s captaincy impact with praise for consistency. He pointed out that Patidar has batted strongly in all four innings so far, describing the combination of steadiness and clarity as “unbelievable.” Krunal concluded that the captain is leading from the front and expressed hope that Patidar keeps that standard going, as RCB look to build on their momentum in the tournament.
