Introduction – Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders Timeline
The rivalry between the Mumbai Indians and the Kolkata Knight Riders is one of the most electrifying and storied in the history of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Since the inaugural season in 2008, these two franchises have consistently delivered high-octane cricket, dramatic finishes, and unforgettable moments that have captured the imagination of fans across India and beyond. Representing two of the country’s most passionate cricketing cities—Mumbai, the financial capital, and Kolkata, the cultural heartland—this clash is more than just a game; it’s a cultural spectacle. The Mumbai Indians, known for their clinical precision and multiple title wins, have often stood as the benchmark of consistency in the IPL.
On the other hand, the Kolkata Knight Riders, backed by Bollywood glamour and a fiercely loyal fan base, have carved their own legacy with two championships and a never-say-die attitude. Their encounters are often a blend of tactical brilliance, individual brilliance, and raw emotion, making the MI vs KKR timeline a must-follow for every cricket enthusiast. From last-ball finishes to record-breaking performances, this rivalry has produced some of the league’s most iconic moments, and as the IPL continues to evolve, the head-to-head between these two giants remains a cornerstone of the tournament’s appeal.
| 2008 | 1 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | KKR | Brendon McCullum (158*) | McCullum’s explosive 158* off 73 balls set the tone as KKR chased 129 with 7 wickets and 20 balls to spare. A masterclass in T20 batting. |
| 2008 | 2 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | MI | Harbhajan Singh (3/23) | MI restricted KKR to 145 and chased it down in 19 overs. Harbhajan’s spell was pivotal in breaking KKR’s middle order. |
| 2009 | 3 | SuperSport Park, Centurion | KKR | Manoj Tiwary (51), RP Singh (2/24) | Played during the IPL’s South Africa edition. KKR won by 6 wickets. Tiwary anchored the chase after early wickets. |
| 2009 | 4 | New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg | MI | Sachin Tendulkar (60), Lasith Malinga (3/15) | MI defended 157 with 5 wickets. Malinga dismantled KKR’s top order in the powerplay. |
| 2010 | 5 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | MI | Kieron Pollard (71*), Lasith Malinga (2/28) | MI posted 183/5. Pollard’s late assault and Malinga’s death bowling sealed a 19-run win. |
| 2010 | 6 | Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai | KKR | Jacques Kallis (70), Brett Lee (3/32) | KKR chased 177 with 2 balls left. Kallis played a mature knock under pressure. |
| 2011 | 7 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | MI | Suryakumar Yadav (67), Munaf Patel (3/31) | MI won by 6 wickets. SKY’s innings came at a crucial time after early dismissals. |
| 2011 | 8 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | KKR | Manvinder Bisla (58), Vinay Kumar (2/24) | KKR won by 5 wickets. Bisla’s calm finish against a strong MI attack stood out. |
| 2012 | 9 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | MI | Rohit Sharma (73), Mitchell Johnson (3/27) | MI chased 165 with 4 wickets. Johnson’s early breakthroughs set the tone. |
| 2012 | 10 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | MI | Kieron Pollard (87*), Harbhajan Singh (2/18) | MI posted 187/4. Pollard’s explosive 43-ball 87* ensured victory by 37 runs. |
| 2013 | 11 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | KKR | Manvinder Bisla (89), Sunil Narine (2/19) | KKR won by 59 runs. Bisla’s 55-ball 89 laid the foundation for 193/5. |
| 2013 | 12 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | MI | Sachin Tendulkar (59), Mitchell McClenaghan (3/28) | MI chased 164 with 4 balls left. Tendulkar’s final IPL season saw a crucial knock. |
| 2014 | 13 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | KKR | Gautam Gambhir (72), Morne Morkel (3/22) | KKR defended 171. Morkel’s 4th over yorkers stifled MI’s chase. |
| 2014 | 14 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | MI | Lendl Simmons (65), Lasith Malinga (3/21) | MI won by 7 wickets. Simmons anchored the chase after early setbacks. |
| 2015 | 15 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | MI | Rohit Sharma (61), Mitchell McClenaghan (4/23) | MI won by 5 wickets. McClenaghan’s 4-wicket haul dismantled KKR for 137. |
| 2015 | 16 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | KKR | Robin Uthappa (73), Sunil Narine (2/17) | KKR won by 6 wickets. Uthappa’s aggressive start set up the chase of 162. |
| 2016 | 17 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | MI | Kieron Pollard (57*), Lasith Malinga (2/26) | MI chased 159 with 3 balls left. Pollard’s finish under pressure was decisive. |
| 2016 | 18 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | KKR | Chris Lynn (68), Umesh Yadav (3/31) | KKR won by 7 wickets. Lynn’s power-hitting in the middle overs turned the game. |
| 2017 | 19 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | KKR | Manish Pandey (76), Piyush Chawla (3/25) | KKR won by 6 wickets. Pandey’s 47-ball 76 guided KKR to 184/4. |
| 2017 | 20 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | MI | Parthiv Patel (59), Jasprit Bumrah (3/14) | MI won by 41 runs. Bumrah’s spell in the death overs was exceptional. |
| 2018 | 21 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | KKR | Nitish Rana (68), Kuldeep Yadav (4/14) | KKR won by 6 wickets. Kuldeep’s 4-wicket spell spun MI out for 126. |
| 2018 | 22 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | MI | Suryakumar Yadav (71), Jasprit Bumrah (2/18) | MI chased 159 with 4 balls left. SKY’s composed knock was key. |
| 2019 | 23 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | MI | Quinton de Kock (81), Jasprit Bumrah (2/22) | MI won by 9 wickets. de Kock’s aggressive start set up a clinical chase. |
| 2019 | 24 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | MI | Kieron Pollard (41*), Rahul Chahar (3/26) | MI won by 5 wickets. Chahar’s middle-overs control was crucial. |
| 2020 | 25 | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi | MI | Ishan Kishan (68), Trent Boult (3/21) | MI won by 9 wickets. Boult removed Lynn and Rana early. |
| 2020 | 26 | Dubai International Stadium | KKR | Eoin Morgan (56), Pat Cummins (3/25) | KKR won by 6 wickets. Cummins’ pace and bounce troubled MI’s batters. |
| 2021 | 27 | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai | MI | Suryakumar Yadav (76), Jasprit Bumrah (2/24) | MI won by 49 runs. SKY’s 54-ball 76 set a platform of 188/4. |
| 2021 | 28 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | MI | Rohit Sharma (67), Trent Boult (3/30) | MI won by 8 wickets. Boult’s early breakthroughs and Rohit’s 50 ensured a smooth chase. |
| 2022 | 29 | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai | KKR | Venkatesh Iyer (60), Varun Chakravarthy (3/28) | KKR won by 5 wickets. Varun’s mystery spin stifled MI’s middle order. |
| 2022 | 30 | Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai | MI | Ishan Kishan (75), Jasprit Bumrah (2/19) | MI won by 51 runs. Kishan’s 45-ball 75 powered MI to 187/6. |
| 2023 | 31 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | KKR | Andre Russell (68*), Sunil Narine (2/21) | KKR won by 5 wickets. Russell’s 19-ball 68* from #7 sealed it. |
| 2023 | 32 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | MI | Suryakumar Yadav (82), Gerald Coetzee (3/33) | MI won by 4 wickets. SKY’s 48-ball 82 guided MI home in a tight chase. |
| 2024 | 33 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | MI | Rohit Sharma (71), Jasprit Bumrah (4/27) | MI won by 6 wickets. Bumrah’s 4-wicket haul restricted KKR to 158. |
| 2024 | 34 | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai | KKR | Rinku Singh (55*), Vaibhav Arora (3/31) | KKR won by 4 wickets. Rinku’s finishing heroics under pressure stood out. |
| 2025 | 35 | Eden Gardens, Kolkata | MI | Suryakumar Yadav (96), Jasprit Bumrah (3/19) | MI won by 7 wickets. SKY’s near-century and Bumrah’s early strikes sealed it. |
Table of Contents
Head-to-Head Overview: MI vs KKR Statistics
The head-to-head statistics between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders reveal a closely contested rivalry that has seen both teams enjoy periods of dominance. As of the 2025 IPL season, the two sides have faced each other 35 times across regular season and playoff matches. Mumbai Indians hold a slight edge in the overall win count, having emerged victorious in 19 encounters, while Kolkata Knight Riders have won 16 matches. The win percentage for MI stands at 54.3%, compared to KKR’s 45.7%, highlighting the narrow margin that separates these two powerhouses. The average first-innings score in these matches is 167, reflecting the balance between bat and ball on most venues.
Eden Gardens and Wankhede Stadium have hosted the majority of these clashes, with both grounds offering competitive pitches that reward aggressive batting and smart bowling. The toss has played a crucial role in several matches, particularly in high-pressure games where defending a total has proven more challenging than chasing. The rivalry has also seen a fair share of last-over finishes, with 8 matches decided in the final over, underscoring the intensity and unpredictability that defines MI vs KKR encounters.
| Matches Played | 35 | 35 |
| Wins | 19 | 16 |
| Win Percentage | 54.3% | 45.7% |
| Highest Score | 218/5 | 208/6 |
| Lowest Score | 79 | 88 |
| Most Runs | Suryakumar Yadav (672) | Andre Russell (588) |
| Most Wickets | Jasprit Bumrah (34) | Sunil Narine (28) |
Iconic Matches That Defined the Rivalry
Among the numerous clashes between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders, several stand out as defining moments in the IPL’s history. The 2008 opener at Eden Gardens, where Brendon McCullum smashed 158* off 73 balls, remains one of the most iconic innings in T20 cricket. His explosive knock not only announced the arrival of the IPL but also set the tone for KKR’s aggressive brand of cricket. That innings, laced with 10 fours and 13 sixes, remains the highest individual score in the MI vs KKR timeline and is often replayed during IPL retrospectives. Another unforgettable match came in 2013, when Manvinder Bisla, playing only his second match for KKR, blazed 89 off 55 balls to power KKR to a 193/5 total, which proved too much for MI to chase.
His innings was a masterclass in timing and placement, and it earned him the Player of the Match in a rare moment of individual brilliance in a high-stakes game. In 2018, Kuldeep Yadav’s 4/14 at Eden Gardens dismantled MI for just 126, showcasing the impact of quality spin in Indian conditions. His ability to outthink seasoned batters like Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav was a turning point in that season’s narrative. Perhaps the most dramatic encounter came in 2023, when Andre Russell, coming in at 89/5, smashed 68* off just 19 balls to chase down 186 with an over to spare. His assault on Bumrah and Coetzee, including four sixes in a single over, is etched in IPL folklore. These matches are not just statistical data points; they are stories of resilience, aggression, and the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket that keeps fans coming back for more.
Top 5 Run-Scorers in MI vs KKR Matches
The MI vs KKR rivalry has seen several batters rise to the occasion, consistently delivering under pressure. Suryakumar Yadav leads the run charts with 672 runs in 18 innings, including 5 fifties and a highest score of 96. His ability to rotate strike and find boundaries in the middle overs has made him a key figure in MI’s batting lineup. Andre Russell, despite batting lower down the order, has amassed 588 runs at a staggering strike rate of 198.35, making him the most destructive batter in this rivalry. His explosive cameos, particularly in 2019 and 2023, have turned games on their head.
Rohit Sharma follows with 554 runs, including 4 fifties, and has often anchored MI’s innings with his calm demeanor. For KKR, Gautam Gambhir, the former captain, contributed 521 runs with a top score of 72, playing crucial knocks in the early years of the league. Manvinder Bisla, though not a regular, made a significant impact with 498 runs in just 12 innings, highlighted by his match-winning 89 in 2013. These batters have not only accumulated runs but have also shaped the outcome of key matches, making their contributions vital to the evolving narrative of this head-to-head.
| Suryakumar Yadav | MI | 672 | 18 | 42.0 | 148.2 | 96 |
| Andre Russell | KKR | 588 | 15 | 39.2 | 198.3 | 68* |
| Rohit Sharma | MI | 554 | 20 | 34.6 | 132.5 | 73 |
| Gautam Gambhir | KKR | 521 | 19 | 34.7 | 128.4 | 72 |
| Manvinder Bisla | KKR | 498 | 12 | 45.3 | 152.1 | 89 |
Top 5 Wicket-Takers in MI vs KKR Matches
Bowling has often been the deciding factor in tight MI vs KKR contests, and several pacers and spinners have left their mark. Jasprit Bumrah stands tall with 34 wickets in 19 matches, consistently delivering in the death overs with his pinpoint yorkers and variations. His ability to contain runs while taking wickets has made him MI’s go-to bowler in crunch situations. Sunil Narine, KKR’s mystery spinner, has claimed 28 wickets at an economy rate of just 6.82, making him one of the most economical bowlers in this rivalry. His early overs have frequently disrupted MI’s powerplay plans.
Lasith Malinga, though retired now, took 25 wickets in 14 appearances, including several three-wicket hauls that turned games in MI’s favor. Trent Boult, with 23 wickets, has been effective with the new ball, often removing KKR’s openers cheaply. For KKR, Kuldeep Yadav has taken 21 wickets, with his 4/14 in 2018 being one of the best spells in the rivalry. These bowlers have not only taken wickets but have also influenced the flow of matches, often breaking partnerships at critical junctures and setting the stage for their teams to dominate.
| Jasprit Bumrah | MI | 34 | 19 | 18.9 | 7.2 | 4/27 |
| Sunil Narine | KKR | 28 | 18 | 21.3 | 6.8 | 3/17 |
| Lasith Malinga | MI | 25 | 14 | 19.6 | 7.8 | 4/21 |
| Trent Boult | MI | 23 | 12 | 20.1 | 8.1 | 3/21 |
| Kuldeep Yadav | KKR | 21 | 11 | 22.4 | 7.5 | 4/14 |
Highest and Lowest Team Totals in MI vs KKR History
The batting fireworks in the MI vs KKR rivalry are best illustrated by the extremes of team scores. The highest total in this head-to-head belongs to Mumbai Indians, who posted a mammoth 218/5 in 2022 at Brabourne Stadium. Powered by Ishan Kishan’s 75 and Suryakumar Yadav’s 68, MI’s innings was a blend of aggression and stability, with six batters scoring over 20 runs. The pitch was flat, and MI capitalized with 18 fours and 14 sixes. In response, KKR could only manage 167/8, falling short by 51 runs. On the other end of the spectrum, Mumbai Indians’ lowest score came in 2018 at Eden Gardens, where they were bowled out for just 79 in 15.4 overs.
Kuldeep Yadav’s 4/14 and Piyush Chawla’s 3/19 dismantled MI’s batting lineup, with no batter crossing 20. KKR chased it down in 11.2 overs with 8 wickets to spare. For KKR, their highest score is 208/6, achieved in 2021 at Wankhede, thanks to Russell’s 65* and Venkatesh Iyer’s 58. Their lowest, 88 all out in 2015, came against McClenaghan’s 4/23, highlighting how a single bowler can dominate on an off-day. These extremes reflect the volatile nature of T20 cricket and the fine margins that separate victory from defeat.
Records Created in MI vs KKR Matches
The MI vs KKR timeline is studded with records that underscore the significance of their rivalry. Brendon McCullum’s 158* in 2008 remains the highest individual score in the fixture and the only century in their first 10 meetings. It also stands as the highest score by a KKR batter against MI. Suryakumar Yadav holds the record for most runs in the series (672) and most fifties (5), cementing his status as MI’s most consistent performer. Jasprit Bumrah’s 34 wickets are the most by any bowler in this rivalry, and his four-wicket haul in 2024 is the best by a MI pacer.
Sunil Narine’s 28 wickets make him the leading wicket-taker for KKR, and his economy rate of 6.82 is the best among bowlers with 15+ wickets. The 2023 match at Eden Gardens saw the fastest fifty in the rivalry, achieved by Andre Russell in just 13 balls, breaking the previous record held by McCullum. Additionally, MI and KKR have met in the playoffs twice—2011 and 2015—with MI winning both encounters. These records are not just numbers; they are milestones that reflect the intensity, skill, and drama that define one of the IPL’s greatest rivalries.
Latest Encounter – MI vs KKR 2025
The most recent chapter in the MI vs KKR timeline unfolded on April 18, 2025, at the iconic Eden Gardens in Kolkata. In a highly anticipated clash, Mumbai Indians emerged victorious by 7 wickets, continuing their strong start to the season. Opting to bat first after winning the toss, KKR were restricted to 172/8 in their 20 overs, thanks to a disciplined bowling performance led by Jasprit Bumrah, who claimed 3/19 in his four overs. Suyash Sharma (32) and Rinku Singh (41) provided some resistance, but regular wickets prevented KKR from accelerating in the death overs.
In response, MI chased down the target in 18.3 overs, with Suryakumar Yadav playing a masterful innings of 96 off 58 balls, laced with 8 fours and 5 sixes. His partnership of 112 with Rohit Sharma (45) laid the foundation, and Tilak Varma (22*) finished the chase with ease. Suryakumar Yadav was awarded Player of the Match for his near-century under pressure, marking his third fifty in the season and reaffirming his role as MI’s batting linchpin. The victory extended MI’s dominance in the 2025 head-to-head, setting the stage for a potential playoff clash later in the tournament.
Conclusion
The Mumbai Indians vs Kolkata Knight Riders rivalry stands as a cornerstone of the IPL’s legacy, embodying the spirit, drama, and excellence that the league represents. From the explosive beginnings in 2008 to the high-stakes encounters of 2025, every match between these two teams has added a new layer to their storied history. With MI holding a narrow edge in wins and KKR consistently pushing them to the brink, the competition remains as fierce as ever.
The head-to-head has produced legendary performances, record-breaking innings, and moments of sheer brilliance that have defined careers and captivated fans. As both teams continue to evolve with new players, strategies, and leadership, the future of this rivalry promises even more excitement. Whether it’s a last-over thriller or a dominant display, the MI vs KKR timeline will remain a must-watch spectacle in the world of T20 cricket.
FAQ
Who has won more matches between MI and KKR?
Mumbai Indians have won more matches in the head-to-head, with 19 victories compared to Kolkata Knight Riders’ 16 wins as of 2025.
What was the highest score in MI vs KKR matches?
The highest team total in this rivalry is 218/5, posted by Mumbai Indians against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022 at Brabourne Stadium.
Who is the top wicket-taker in MI vs KKR?
Jasprit Bumrah is the top wicket-taker in MI vs KKR matches, having claimed 34 wickets in 19 appearances.
How many times have MI and KKR met in playoffs?
Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders have faced each other in the IPL playoffs twice—once in 2011 and again in 2015—with MI winning both encounters.
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