De Kock gets past legendary MS Dhoni in MI’s first match in five years

New Delhi: mumbai indians batter Quinton de Kock Mumbai Indians made a stunning comeback in their first match after five years and rose to the occasion in their absence. Rohit Sharma They will take on Kings XI Punjab in IPL 2026 on Thursday.With Rohit out due to a hamstring injury, MI reshuffled the batting order, promoting de Kock to the top order, a role he last played in the 2021 season. The move paid off immediately. The left-hander looked in complete control of the match, hitting a fluid half-century off just 28 balls and sealing the win early on.

De Kock also achieved a major milestone during his knock. His 25th win in 50 IPL matches as the designated wicketkeeper-batsman MS Dhoni (24 50), placing him second on the all-time list behind KL Rahul.

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Landmarks fall with a calming single Yuzvendra Chahalas he raised his bat to greet the crowd.This innings was crucial for Mumbai, who were already dealing with disruption. Rohit’s absence has created a leadership and batting void in the top-order, while Mitchell Santner is also out due to illness. team leader Hardik Pandya It was confirmed before the game that Rohit would miss “a few games”, forcing the team to rethink their combination.De Kock’s composed batting not only stabilized the innings but also underlined his value as a flexible top-order batsman. His experience in high-pressure situations ensured that MI did not lose early momentum, even as the team continues to overcome key absences in IPL 2026.