Mumbai, March 29 -- Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya won the toss and opted to bowl first against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in both teams' first match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 season at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday.

Mumbai Indians step into the new season with an ambition to clinch a sixth IPL crown and bring an end to a title drought that has lingered since 2020. Led by Hardik Pandya for a third successive campaign, the five-time champions will be keen to kick the 2026 season off with a win.

Meanwhile, Kolkata Knight Riders, led by Ajinkya Rahane, will be desperate for a revival after an underwhelming 2025 campaign, where the defending champions slumped to an eighth-place finish, securing just five victories...