Pat Cummins’ game-changing 56 off just 15 balls helped Kolkata Knight Riders beat Mumbai Indians by 5 wickets in the Indian Premier League match at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Wednesday. 

Sent to bat first, an 83-run fourth-wicket stand between Suryakumar Yadav (52) and Tilak Varma (38 not out), Pollard (22 not out) helped end MI’s innings on a high.

In reply, KKR chased down the target of 162 with 24 balls to spare.

Playing his first game of the IPL 2022 season, Pat Cummins blasted 56 off 15 balls. He joined KL Rahul to equal the record for the fastest fifty ever in the Indian Premier League. 

“I am more surprised [with that innings]! It just came off. I was not trying to overthink. That’s really satisfying. The ball seems to fly here… So just hitting in the shorter side. I am sure it sends a message…! We were lucky to keep the core of the squad like last year. Happy with how it came out [with the ball]. Overall pretty happy,” Pat Cummins said after winning the Player of the Match award. 

Venkatesh Iyer, on the other hand, remained not out on 50.

“For everyone other than Put the pitch looked very tricky. Got to give it to Pat for that on a pitch which was actually tricky to bat on. There’ll be days when you’ll not be hitting the ball as well as you want… With the batting line-up that we have with some big-hitters coming, I could play the anchor role…,” Venkatesh Iyer said after the match. 

Brief scores: Mumbai Indians: 161/4 in 20 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 52, Tilak Varma ; Pat Cummins 2/49, Umesh Yadav 1/25).

Kolkata Knight Riders: 162/5 in 16 overs (Venkatesh Iyer 50 not out, Pat Cummins 56 not out 56; Murugan Ashwin 2/25).