Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Mumbai Indians (MI) have engaged in an epic rivalry, producing thrilling matches that range from last-ball thrillers to record victories. The kolkata knight riders vs mumbai indians timeline highlights how players like Andre Russell and Sunil Narine provide explosive hitting while Ishan Kishan has proven his ability to lead from the front.
| Date | Match | Winner | Margin | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 May 2024 | KKR vs MI, IPL 2024 | KKR | 24 runs | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
| 16 Apr 2023 | MI vs KKR, IPL 2023 | MI | 5 wickets | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| 28 Apr 2022 | KKR vs MI, IPL 2022 | KKR | 52 runs | DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai |
| 23 Sept 2021 | MI vs KKR, IPL 2021 | KKR | 7 wickets | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi |
| 13 Apr 2021 | KKR vs MI, IPL 2021 | MI | 10 runs | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
The Beginning of a Fierce Rivalry (2008)
The inaugural season of the IPL set a dramatic and intense rivalry into motion. Mumbai Indians quickly made an impressionful statement against Kolkata Knight Riders with two victories over them, showing off their superior bowling attack and deep batting lineup.
Brendon McCullum scored an outstanding unbeaten knock of 158 not out for Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), in one of the greatest Twenty20 performances ever seen. But despite McCullum’s stellar innings, Mumbai were still able to pull off an 8-wicket victory at home proving their dominance at key moments of play.
MI have historically dominated this rivalry, winning 24 out of 35 matches up until 2025. But KKR have shown resilience and improved in recent seasons resulting in high-octane clashes that often dictate playoff scenarios.
Mumbai Indians Build Early Dominance (2009–2011)
This season marked an inflection point in their rivalry. Mumbai Indians emerged victorious, winning both league games and creating an emotional edge over Kolkata. Furthermore, their impressive victory in the Eliminator was crucial as it established them as a side that excels under pressure.
This one-sided match at Eden Gardens was highlighted by Mumbai’s record-setting innings led by Ishan Kishan’s 21-ball 62 at Eden Gardens, helping them amass 210 runs and hand KKR their first defeat. The match served as a reminder that form can change quickly between these teams, making it hard to predict who will ultimately come out on top and making for compelling rivalry matches with legendary performances and unforgettable finishes from both teams alike – MI has an overall head-to-head record with 23 wins to 11 from KKR so far; yet they continue to show resilience and progress over time despite MI’s overall dominance;
KKR’s Fightback and Key Wins (2012–2014)
Mumbai Indians made an early impression in the inaugural edition of IPL by defeating Kolkata Knight Riders with ease, bowling out KKR for just 116 runs and easily reaching their target led by Ishan Kishan’s explosive fifty and Ryan Rickelton’s composed 62 not outs.
KKR had two wins back-to-back the following season, yet were far from dominating this rivalry; their performances in both games left an indelible mark on this rivalry.
At Wankhede, Kolkata Knight Riders suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of debutant Ashwani Kumar who demolished their batting line-up to just 116 runs batting first in his IPL debut match. Hardik Pandya produced one of his finest individual performances when scoring 91 runs off 41 balls for Mumbai Indians to secure a five-wicket win at Pune and ensure one of their most exciting and memorable encounters ever!
Iconic Performances That Defined the Rivalry (2015–2016)
Mumbai Indians made their mark on the inaugural IPL with an emphatic victory against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens and Wankhede Stadium respectively, showing off both MI’s potency in batting and their depth in depth batting line up.
Mumbai survived an early setback when T Suman was caught at cover off Jacques Kallis and went on to build their total with some brilliant batting from Rahul Dravid and Rohit Sharma. With three streaky boundaries from Ambati Rayudu off consecutive balls from Ambati Rayudu gave Mumbai a dramatic win – marking a turning point in their rivalry that would see both teams dominate over time.
Turning Points and High-Stakes Clashes (2017–2020)
Mumbai Indians put on an outstanding display against Kolkata Knight Riders to defeat them by 10 runs and win match 38 of IPL 2008. Sanath Jayasuriya took three wickets while scoring 18 off 10 balls to set up MI’s innings, while Malinga’s devastating spell wreaked havoc with KKR’s lower order and crushed MI.
Mumbai Indians established themselves as the dominant team early in 2024 against KKR with convincing victories at both locations: Mumbai and Kolkata. Mumbai won both matches comfortably; they edged out their first encounter close but eventually chased down their target easily thanks to strong bowling attacks and deep batting lines; followed it up with an emphatic victory in Eliminator Round; sending a clear message that their rivals weren’t the ones winning matches anymore, then continued winning streak in playoffs against them both times round!
Russell and Narine Lead KKR’s Revival (2022)
Gautam Gambhir and Mumbai Indians set a winning tone in their debut IPL match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), winning both of their matches to create an early psychological advantage that would remain for several years. Their dominating performance was propelled by strong bowling attack and deep batting order: IPL debutant Ashwani Kumar broke through KKR’s top order while Ryan Rickelton orchestrated an easy chase of 100 runs to secure an easy victory for Mumbai Indians at Wankhede Stadium.
Mumbai Indians remain ahead in terms of wins compared to Kolkata Knight Riders with 24 wins overall versus 11. However, recent seasons have demonstrated how quickly momentum can shift in this rivalry and they should look out for any signs that MI can slip away at any moment – while KKR have shown themselves capable of challenging Mumbai and will hope to avenge their previous loss by seizing control in this decisive matchup.
Recent Seasons and Shifting Momentum (2023–2025)
Mumbai Indians proved their dominance early, winning both matches against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Their bowlers kept Kolkata’s batting lineup under control and their deep batting order ensured smooth chases.
MI quickly defeated KKR at Wankhede Stadium to open up their season with a comfortable victory. MI won the toss and elected to field, sending KKR into bat but they quickly capitulated due to Ashwani Kumar’s incredible four-wicket haul as an IPL debutant. Ryan Rickelton then led their innings with an unbeaten 62 which helped ensure MI’s triumphant victory.
In their second match of the season, KKR made a bold move against MI by defeating them at Eden Gardens with a 7-wicket win. This provided Gautam Gambhir with a much-needed confidence boost and signalled an alteration of momentum; also showing them they were capable of being defeated despite winning two subsequent encounters themselves and giving fans hope of an evenly balanced rivalry.
Head-to-Head Record: MI vs KKR
Since 2008 when the IPL began, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and Mumbai Indians (MI) have faced off 34 times, with MI enjoying a distinct edge but often making comebacks to defeat Kolkata players.
Iconic moments characterized this rivalry, from Rohit Sharma’s stunning batting to Andre Russell’s explosive finishing. Stats revealed key strategies used by each side – from KKR’s powerplay aggression and MI’s DRS use; as well as emerging talent like Kieron Pollard’s batting and Varun Chakaravarthy’s mystery spin.
The 2025 clash marked a turning point in their rivalry, due to IPL trends such as impact player rules and young players making an impactful statement. Additionally, Mumbai established itself as an overwhelming force after purchasing star bowlers Piyush Chawla and Kuldeep Yadav through RTM auction. These acquisitions led to several high-scoring thrillers such as one rain-shortened contest at Wankhede Cricket Ground and an exciting chase at Eden Gardens.
What Lies Ahead in This Epic Rivalry
Mumbai Indians still hold an edge in this rivalry, but recent performances by Kolkata Knight Riders suggest an alteration of momentum. Andre Russell’s aggressive finishing and Sunil Narine’s varied tactics have been key components to KKR’s successes against MI.
2022: This match upended the usual narrative of their rivalry. Andre Russell hit an astonishing 80 off 40 balls as KKR recorded 232/2 to easily defeat Mumbai by 34 runs.
This high-stakes playoff tie was one of the most exciting IPL matches ever and illustrated that power shifts quickly from season to season – it will be exciting to see which side can claim victory!
2017
Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders’ rivalry has long been one of the most compelling stories in IPL cricket history, producing iconic moments and amazing talent over 17 seasons. But this rivalry has also experienced its fair share of ups and downs; both teams experiencing drastic turnarounds.
This year, MI were victorious against KKR on both occasions they faced them, showing their dominance on the field. Ashwani Kumar made his debut against them and Ryan Rickelton’s composed half century guided them to an easy 8-wicket win within 12.5 overs – sending a strong signal from Mumbai that they intended to regain their dominant status in this fixture. Their rivalry promises to be intensely competitive this season as both sides boast talented squads looking to claim important victories.
