Wankhede Stadium will host its final game of the 2026 Indian Premier League (2026) when Mumbai Indians (MI) Take on Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Match 69 on Sunday, May 24.
The five-time champions are ninth in the standings and cannot move higher regardless of the outcome of the game. However, MI would like to end their campaign with a win on their home soil in front of their loyal supporters.
RR, on the other hand, know that a win on Sunday guarantees them a place in the playoffs, where they will face Sunrisers Hyderabad. The inaugural champions currently have 14 points from 13 matches to sit in fourth place.
MI and both RR The two faced each other in Guwahati earlier this season, with the Royals winning by 27 runs in a rain-affected game. With the match reduced to 11 overs per side, RR scored 150 runs on the board thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal's unbeaten 77 runs. In reply, MI could only score 123 runs and lost nine wickets in the process.
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai: Pitch Report
An absolute batting paradise, the average first innings score at the Wankhede Stadium in the 2026 IPL season has been 222. However, even this cannot be guaranteed as a winning total, given SRH had chased 244 runs earlier in this campaign. The bowlers may get some assistance, but the batsmen generally dominate the proceedings. Due to the stadium being very close to the Arabian Sea to the west, the sea breeze can help fast bowlers generate swing with the new ball.
IPL stats and records at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
| matches played |
131 |
| Matches won by batting first |
58 |
| Matches won while batting second | 72 |
| matches with no results | 00 |
| match tie | 01 |
| Average score of first innings | 173 |
| highest team total | 249/4 |
| Highest score successfully chased | 243 |
MI vs RR: Strategies and match-ups
As the IPL heads towards its conclusion, both MI and RR are well balanced. However, both teams have had contrasting seasons in 2026. The Royals have one of the most destructive top-orders combined with a lethal new-ball attack. Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Jofra Archer remained their team's heroes with the bat and ball respectively throughout the season. MI, on the other hand, have a star-studded lineup that doesn't click at the right time. Jasprit Bumrah's average with the ball is 102.50, while Suryakumar Yadav's average score is 17.50.
Both MI and RR have faced each other 32 times in IPL history, with the Mumbai-based franchise winning 16 to 15. However, RR have a slightly better record in the last five meetings, with three wins to their name.
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