IPL 2026 moves to the iconic Wankhede Stadium for Match 2 as Mumbai Indians take on Kolkata Knight Riders on Sunday, March 29.
Mumbai enter the contest hoping to end their long-standing opening-match drought, while Kolkata arrive with a reshuffled squad after injury setbacks. With Wankhede conditions often favouring batters, match-day factors like pitch behaviour and dew could play a defining role.

The Wankhede surface traditionally offers true bounce and pace, making it one of the most batting-friendly venues in the IPL. Batters can play freely once settled, and short boundaries further favour attacking strokeplay.
Fast bowlers may find some swing in the opening overs, but as the game progresses, dew often becomes a major factor, making it difficult for bowlers to control the ball. This is why chasing teams usually hold a slight advantage here.
• True bounce supports strokeplay
• Early swing available for pacers
• Dew likely in second innings
• Par total expected around 190-210
Weather in Mumbai is expected to remain stable, ensuring uninterrupted play.
Clear skies are forecast throughout the evening, with temperatures around 29°C dropping slightly closer to match time. High humidity levels - around 70 percent - are likely to bring dew into play during the second innings.
• Temperature: Around 29°C, dropping to 26°C
• Humidity: Around 69-78%
• Rain Probability: 0%
• Conditions: Clear skies
Mumbai Indians are expected to rely on their experienced core, particularly at home conditions. Rohit Sharma and Quinton de Kock are likely to open, while Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma anchor the middle order. The pace duo of Jasprit Bumrah and Trent Boult remains their biggest strength.
Rohit Sharma, Quinton de Kock (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya (c), Naman Dhir, Sherfane Rutherford, Shardul Thakur, Trent Boult, Jasprit Bumrah, Mayank Markande
Impact Player: Deepak Chahar
Kolkata Knight Riders are expected to lean on their all-round depth, with Finn Allen and Sunil Narine likely to open and Ajinkya Rahane leading from the middle order. Cameron Green and Rinku Singh remain key figures in the batting lineup.
Finn Allen, Sunil Narine, Ajinkya Rahane (c), Cameron Green, Angkrish Raghuvanshi (wk), Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Anukul Roy, Vaibhav Arora, Blessing Muzarabani, Kartik Tyagi
Impact Player: Varun Chakravarthy
With dew expected later in the evening and batting-friendly conditions throughout, the toss may become crucial. Teams winning the toss are likely to bowl first, aiming to chase under easier batting conditions.