The IPL 2026 clash between Mumbai Indians and Royal Challengers Bengaluru stood out not only for its on-field action but also for its unusually long duration, stretching well beyond the typical T20 timeframe.
The match, which began with the toss at 7 pm IST, concluded only after 11:45 pm, lasting approximately four hours and 23 minutes. This made it the longest IPL game without a Super Over, highlighting growing concerns around match duration in the format.
Former Kolkata Knight Riders team director Joy Bhattacharjya reacted humorously to the extended contest, writing, “Another record for the IPL. The first match which was longer than Dhurandhar 2!” The film Dhurandhar: The Revenge has a runtime of around three hours and 50 minutes.
RCB post record total at Wankhede
On the field, Royal Challengers Bengaluru continued their strong form with an 18-run win over Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium. The victory was built on a powerful batting display that saw them register their highest-ever total at the venue.
Phil Salt led the charge with a rapid 78 off 36 balls, earning the Player of the Match award, while captain Rajat Patidar contributed a quickfire 53 off 20 balls. Patidar’s innings included the fastest fifty by a captain in the tournament’s history, coming off just 17 deliveries.
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Patidar highlights batting confidence
RCB skipper Rajat Patidar emphasised the team’s batting strength and consistency after the match. “At the moment, it feels like we are scoring 200-plus in every match. It gives me a lot of confidence, and as a captain, I feel like I have a lot of talent in the team.”
Explaining his approach, he added, “I don’t really think too much about how I want to play. I try to react to the ball and stay clear about what I want to do – which shot I want to hit and which bowler I want to target. Even in the dugout, I try to read where the scoring opportunities are.”
Bowling effort completes the job
With the ball, Krunal Pandya (1 for 26) and Suyash Sharma (2 for 47) played key roles in restricting Mumbai Indians during the chase.
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Krunal praised the team’s batting unit for setting up the win, saying, “Every game, you have to earn that win. The way everyone is batting – Virat, Salty, Tim – everyone has contributed. I’m especially happy for Salty, the way he counter-attacked in the powerplay. That set us up really well.”
He also highlighted Patidar’s leadership, adding, “The way Rajat has batted in all four innings – the consistency and clarity – it’s been unbelievable. The captain is leading from the front, and I hope he continues.”
RCB’s continued run of high-scoring performances underlines their strong start to IPL 2026, even as the extended match duration sparked discussion around the evolving pace of the format.
