Mumbai Indians vs Rising Pune Supergiants, IPL 2016 1st Match: RPSG beat MI by 9 wickets

Updated: 10 April 2016 00:40 IST - Published: 08 April 2016 22:52 IST

As far as the IPL is concerned, tomorrow we have the Kolkata Knight Riders taking on the Delhi Daredevils at the Eden Gardens. The match begins at 8:00 PM (IST) and Sportskeeda's live coverage for the match starts at 6:30 PM (IST). We hope to have your company for that! Till then, it's goodbye and goodnight!

So, RPSG make a cake walk of their opener against the Mumbai Indians and would take a lot of confidence from this win. On the other hand, MI would look to bounce back and display an improved batting and bowling performance in their next game against the Kolkata Knight Riders.

"I felt that it was important to time the ball, as the ball was stopping a bit. Track was slightly two paced. Generally it is a good batting surface, but today the ball was stopping a bit," says Rahane. "This win was very important for us going into tournament. The experience in the line-up in MS Dhoni, Kevin Pietersen, and Steve Smith is also very important to us," Rahane adds.

Ajinkya Rahane is the Man of the Match for tonight's game for his knock of 66 (42)!

"I don't think we could have had a better start than this. Credit to the bowlers to bowled extremely well. Especially Rajat, who is not express but bowls wicket to wicket," says the winning captain MS Dhoni. "The job of the batsmen was easy, but at the same time, Rahane and Faf played really well. Rahane is player to plays traditional shots. He doesn't play unorthodox shots. It is good that he stayed till the end."

The YES Bank Maximum Sixes Award goes to Faf du Plessis for hitting three sixes!

"We didn't bat well. 120 would never be enough on this wicket. There is a lot to learn from this game. We'll come back with a positive frame of mind," says MI captain Rohit Sharma. "Our shot selection wasn't great. We don't want to panic so early, and would think about what to do as a team in the future matches," he adds.

It wasn't a huge target but the clinical nature of the way Pune finished things off will please MS Dhoni. Ajinkya Rahane continued his good form from Rajasthan to Pune and although all three batsmen got amongst the runs, it was the bowlers that scripted the comfortable victory.

14.4 Pandya to Ajinkya Rahane, SIX! RPSG win! That was a short ball outside off and Rahane played a beautiful uppercut over the keeper's head that sailed over for a six to finish things off for Pune!

14.3 Pandya to Ajinkya Rahane, no run, tries to guide it towards third man, but misses

14.2 Pandya to Ajinkya Rahane, SIX! Hit on the up towards long on for another six! He just pulled the short ball over the head of mid-on this time. That was a cross batted swat!

14.1 Pandya to Ajinkya Rahane, no run, short ball, flicked by Rahane, but fielded by Rayudu at mid-on to stop the run

Hardik Pandya into the attack with the game almost done.

8 needed off the last six overs. Rahane has the strike and he can get his side home with a couple of hits here.

13.6 Harbhajan to Ajinkya Rahane, 1 run, driven towards long-on, by coming down for another easy single

13.5 Harbhajan to Kevin Pietersen, 1 run, Harbhajan fires one in on the pads, and KP turns it towards short midwicket

13.4 Harbhajan to Ajinkya Rahane, 1 run, turned off his pads towards the square leg fielder for a single

13.3 Harbhajan to Ajinkya Rahane, no run, defended back towards the bowler

13.2 Harbhajan to Kevin Pietersen, 1 run, deflected off his bat towards square leg for a single

13.1 Harbhajan to Kevin Pietersen, SIX! That was brutally hit over long on for another six! It wasn't too short but KP just launched into that one over wide long-on.

Pune are cruising to victory here and barring an absolute miracle, MI are going to begin with a loss once again.

12.6 Gopal to Ajinkya Rahane, no run, DROPPED! Rahane hit that straight back towards the bowler who couldn't grab it in his follow through

The running between the wickets has been fantastic. And when you don't have a huge total to chase that is handy.

12.5 Gopal to Kevin Pietersen, 1 run, on the leg stump, takes KP's pads and goes towards fine leg for a single.

12.4 Gopal to Kevin Pietersen, 2 runs, another cut short towards deep point, and they charge back for the second run.

12.3 Gopal to Ajinkya Rahane, 1 run, a bit short again, driven towards deep cover for another single

12.2 Gopal to Ajinkya Rahane, no run, defended towards mid-on

12.1 Gopal to Ajinkya Rahane, FOUR! Short ball, and pulled away towards deep midwicket for another four! 50 for Rahane!

11.6 Harbhajan to Kevin Pietersen, SIX! KP steps down again, and this time, he makes the connection perfectly, as he gets to the pitch of the ball and heaves it over deep midwicket for a massive six

11.5 Harbhajan to Kevin Pietersen, no run, KP guides it towards third man, and takes off, but is sent back by Rahane

11.4 Harbhajan to Kevin Pietersen, no run, driven back towards the bowler

11.3 Harbhajan to Kevin Pietersen, 2 runs, on the pads as the ball turns, KP just tickles it towards fine leg for a couple

11.2 Harbhajan to Ajinkya Rahane, 1 run, cut to deep point for a single again

11.1 Harbhajan to Ajinkya Rahane, 2 runs, turning in again and Rahane turns it towards square leg and races through for a couple.

Spin from both ends has kept the runs down but Mumbai don't have too much more to play with. They need wickets.

10.6 Gopal to Ajinkya Rahane, 1 run, short ball, pulled, but straight to the man at deep midwicket

10.5 Gopal to Ajinkya Rahane, 2 runs, Rahane drives it towards deep cover for a couple of runs

10.4 Gopal to Kevin Pietersen, 1 run, on the pads, and turned towards square leg for a single

10.3 Gopal to Kevin Pietersen, no run, patted back to the bowler.

10.2 Gopal to Ajinkya Rahane, 1 run, turned from across the stumps towards midwicket for a single

10.1 Gopal to Kevin Pietersen, 1 run, turned towards long-on from middle stump line for a single

At the halfway stage, Pune are cruising but how will that wicket impact the innings?

9.6 Harbhajan to Kevin Pietersen, 1 run, paddle sweep by KP towards square leg for a single

9.5 Harbhajan to Kevin Pietersen, no run, beautifull bowled, turns in towards the batsman and just beats the stumps, and the bat as well

Kevin Pietersen comes to the crease.

9.4 Harbhajan to Faf du Plessis, OUT! He has bolwed him! Du Plessis tries to sweep, and the ball deflects off his bat and the pads onto the stumps! Finally a wicket for MI!

9.3 Harbhajan to Faf du Plessis, no run, turned towards short midwicket

9.2 Harbhajan to Ajinkya Rahane, 1 run, makes room and plays towards covers for another single

9.1 Harbhajan to Faf du Plessis, 1 run, played towards square leg for a run

Harbhajan Singh into the attack with Pune at 76/0 from 9 overs, needing just 46 from the last 11 overs.