Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma headline many Royal Challengers Bengaluru versus Mumbai Indians contests, and on Sunday at Wankhede Stadium the spotlight was firmly on Kohli—despite him not looking satisfied. Kohli struck a 65th IPL half-century, reaching the mark off 37 balls, but the emotion on his face told a different story. He didn’t celebrate after getting there on the second delivery of the 15th over bowled by Hardik Pandya, and he walked back two balls later, visibly frustrated as he tried to push against the pressure. His strike rate of 131.58 offered one possible clue. While Kohli was steering the innings like a steady anchor, Rajat Patidar and Phil Salt played a contrasting brand of aggressive cricket.
Patidar and Salt’s momentum helped RCB post a commanding total of 240 for 4—the second-highest score of the season—against Mumbai Indians in their Indian Premier League meeting. Salt blazed to 78 off 36 balls, featuring six fours and six maximums, while Kohli contributed a composed 50 off 38. Together, the pair built a crisp 120-run opening-wicket partnership.
Salt’s stay was brief but explosive. He was dismissed by Shardul Thakur in Thakur’s very first over of the innings—the team’s 11th—giving Mumbai a much-needed breakthrough. Patidar then stepped in and picked up the tempo where Salt had left it, smashing 53 off just 20 balls. His knock included four boundaries and five sixes, as the defending champions made their intent unmistakable.
Innings build-up
- Fans at Wankhede Stadium watched Kohli reach his 65th IPL fifty, but he appeared unhappy and did not celebrate after moving to the milestone on the second ball of the 15th over from Hardik Pandya.
- Kohli was dismissed two balls later while attempting to break the shackles, finishing with a strike rate of 131.58.
- Phil Salt and Rajat Patidar delivered a very different tempo to the innings, helping lift RCB to 240 for 4.
- Salt made 78 off 36 balls, striking six fours and six sixes, before being removed by Shardul Thakur in his first over (RCB’s 11th).
- Patidar followed with 53 off 20 balls, including four boundaries and five maximums, as RCB continued to pile on runs.
- Earlier in the match, Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and chose to field.
Even with Kohli’s half-century, the day’s numbers for RCB batters stood out for their pace: Phil Salt’s strike rate was 216.67, Patidar’s 265.00, Tim David’s 212.50, Jitesh Sharma’s 111.11, while Kohli’s own rate sat at 131.58. Mumbai Indians’ bowling attack also had its share of names involved in the contest, with Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult, Hardik Pandya, Mayank Markande, Shardul Thakur, and Santner all part of the opposition’s plans.
Kohli’s innings ultimately became a talking point for the wrong reasons in the stands—captured in clips showing him throwing off his gloves and helmet after his dismissal and reacting with visible anger at his own performance. The broader narrative, however, was RCB’s total and the way Salt and Patidar transformed the platform, leaving Mumbai Indians to chase 240 with their bowlers having already served notice that the top order had been put under serious strain.
