Defending champions Team Mumbai's opening game nightmare continued in Indian T20 League 2021 as they lost their opening game against Virat Kohli-led Team Bangalore by two wickets at the MA Chidambaram Stadium on Friday.
Rohit Sharma's Mumbai have now failed to win any of their last nine opening matches of Indian T20 League seasons since 2013. The last time Mumbai won their first match of an Indian T20 League season was against MS Dhoni's Team Chennai as they had secured an eight-wicket win at the Chepauk.
Interestingly, this is Mumbai's fifth loss in an Indian T20 League opening game and their third loss to Team Bangalore in a season opener.
Here's Mumbai's losing streak in Indian T20 League opening matches:
| Team Mumbai's record in opening matches | |
| Year | Results |
| 2008 | Mumbai lost to Bangalore by 5 wickets in their first match of the season |
| 2009 | Mumbai lost to Chennai by 19 runs in the season opener |
| 2010 | Mumbai lost to Rajasthan by 4 runs in their first match of the season |
| 2011 | Mumbai lost to Delhi by 8 wickets in their first match of the season |
| 2012 | Mumbai defeated Chennai by 8 wickets in the season opener |
| 2013 | Mumbai lost to Bangalore by 2 runs in their first match of the season |
| 2014 | Mumbai lost to Kolkata by 41 runs in the season opener |
| 2015 | Mumbai lost to Kolkata by 7 wickets in the season opener |
| 2016 | Mumbai lost to Pune by 9 wickets in the season opener |
| 2017 | Mumbai lost to Pune by 7 wickets in their first match of the season |
| 2018 | Mumbai lost to Chennai by 1 wicket in the season opener |
| 2019 | Mumbai lost to Delhi by 37 runs on their first match of the season |
| 2020 | Mumbai lost to Chennai by 5 wickets in the season opener |
| 2021 | Mumbai lost to Bangalore by 2 wickets in the season opener |
Despite this unwanted record, Mumbai have managed to win the title five times in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020 respectively.
On Friday, Bangalore bowlers restricted the vaunted Mumbai batting line-up to a competitive 159 runs in their 20 overs. The 30-year-old Harshal Patel was the wrecker-in-chief for the Virat Kohli-led side, who claimed his first five-wicket haul in the shortest format.
In reply, Bangalore rode on AB de Villiers' 27-ball 48 and Glenn Maxwell's 39 off 28 to chase down the target in their 20 overs.
Featured photo: DIBYANGSHU SARKAR / AFP
