New Delhi: IPL 2026 wrote another piece of history with a four-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders on Wednesday night. Mumbai Indians Batting second became the team’s 42nd win of the season – the most ever in a single IPL edition.The previous record stood at 41 successful chases during the 2016 season, but with five league games remaining in IPL 2026, the current campaign has already surpassed that mark. In 65 matches so far this season, the teams have won 42 times, meaning 64.6% of the completed matches have been won by the second-placed team. Excluding the inconclusive clash between KKR and Punjab Kings, this percentage further increases to 65.6.There are now only three IPL seasons for teams to chase 40 or more wins – 2026, 2016 and 2011 – indicating a growing trend that has tilted heavily in favor of second-placed teams this year.
Win the most by chasing teams in the IPL season.
- 42 (65 matches) in IPL 2026
- 41 in IPL 2016 (60 matches)
- 40 in IPL 2011 (73 matches)
While the record highlights the thrill of a successful run chase, it has also reignited the debate over whether teams batting first are doing themselves a disservice faster in the competition.
KKR stay alive in the playoff race.
On a tough, two-pace pitch at Eden Gardens, Kolkata tried to bowl with discipline before chasing down 148 with four wickets to keep their playoff hopes alive.The KKR captain asked to bat first Ajinkya RahaneMumbai never found momentum after an early blow from pacers Saurabh Dubey and Cameron Green, who took two wickets each in their opening spells.Mumbai slumped to 46/4 inside the powerplay – the fifth time this season they have lost at least three wickets in the first six overs. Hardik Pandya And Tilak Verma added 43 runs, but his stand consumed 49 balls and failed to provide the momentum Mumbai so desperately needed.Sunil Narine tightened the screws brilliantly in the middle overs, conceding just 13 runs in four overs, while Corbin Bosch’s late sixes helped Mumbai to 147/8.KKR’s chase also started in disarray after Finn Allen fell in the opening over. Rahane and Green departed soon after as Mumbai threatened to pull off an upset.But veteran campaigners Manish Pandey and Ruman Powell steadied the innings with a composed partnership that ultimately decided the contest.Pandey scored a crucial 45 in his first game of the season and later admitted that the innings meant a lot to him.He said that this is the only chance I got to bat this season.Powell’s aggressive stroke play complemented Pandey’s calm before Rinku Singh ended the chase and ensured KKR’s survival in the play-off race.
