IPL 9, MI v RPS – Statistical Highlights:

Mumbai Indians started off the IPL season with a loss again as the new comers Rising Pune Supergiants. RPS thrashed the defending champions in 1st game of 2016 season by 9 wickets. MI could manage only 121/8 in 20 overs after electing to bat. Harbhajan Singh scored a quick fire 45* towards the end while Ambati Rayudu with 22 was the only player to score in double digits in the top order.

Chasing 122, RPS were off to a flyer as Ajinkya Rahane found boundaries with his class act. Faf du Plessis managed to score 33. Rahane was unbeaten on 66 while Kevin Pietersen who came at no.3 scored 21 with 2 sixes. Here we look at all the stats and records recorded during the game.

1 – For the first time in IPL history, all the top 4 of Mumbai Indians scored single digits.

1 – Rajat Bhatia’s maiden over was his first in T20 career. He bowled his first maiden over in his 128th T20 game.

3 – For the 3rd consecutive time, MI have lost in the opening game of an IPL season. Also, this was the 4th consecutive time MI lost their first game in a season.

4 – Number of Rising Pune Supergiants’ bowlers picked a wicket on the first ball they bowled today. This is the first time in IPL where 4 different bowlers picked up a wicket on the first ball they bowled in a team’s innings. No instances of more than 2 bowlers picking a wicket on the first ball in a team’s innings have been recorded in IPL before this game.

6 – Rising Pune Supergiants became the 6th team in IPL history to win their first ever game played in IPL. 6 teams ended on losing side.

11 – Number of Man of Match awards Ajinkya Rahane has received in IPL since 2012, the most by any other player. Interestingly, Rahane didn’t receive any before 2012.

17 – Number of dot balls Rajat Bhatia bowled in the game. The record for most dots in an IPL game is 20 dots by Munaf Patel.

19 – Number of fifty plus scores Ajinkya Rahane has in IPL. Only 6 other players scored more than Rahane.

32 – Rising Pune Supergiants’ win with 32 balls to spare was the 3rd largest win against MI in IPL in terms of balls to spare.

40 – Score at which Mumbai Indians lost their 5th wicket. This is their lowest in IPL. Previous was 41/5 vs Delhi Daredevils in 2012 at Mumbai.

149.89 – Harbhajan Singh’s strike rate in IPL is the 5th best batting strike rate for any player. [Min: 150 balls faced]

100 – Number of IPL matches Vinay Kumar has played so far. He is the 14th player and first fast bowler to play 100 matches in IPL.

111 – Wickets taken by Harbhajan Singh in IPL. Only Lasith Malinga (143) has more.

300 – Twenty20 matches played by Kieron Pollard. He is the first player to do so.

2013 – Runs scored by Ambati Rayudu in IPL. He is the 24th player to do so. Also, Rayudu became the 3rd player after Sachin and Rohit to score 2000 runs in IPL for Mumbai Indians.

What were the talking points of the game? – IPL 9, Match 1 MI v RPS – 5 Talking Points