Guyanese stroke-maker Sherfane Rutherford produced a stunning late-innings display at the Wankhede Stadium on Saturday, but his unbeaten 71 off 31 balls was not enough to carry Mumbai Indians past Royal Challengers Bengaluru in a high-scoring IPL 2026 encounter. RCB won by 18 runs, successfully defending a total of 240 for 4.
RCB’s innings was built on a blazing foundation from Phil Salt, who hammered 78 off 36 deliveries and put on a 47-run assault during the Powerplay that forced Jasprit Bumrah into an early return spell. Virat Kohli added a measured 50 off 38 balls, while Rajat Patidar provided the finishing acceleration with a 20-ball half-century that included three sixes off Mayank Markande.
Mumbai’s chase began promisingly through Ryan Rickelton, but the introduction of RCB’s spinners proved the turning point. Suyash Sharma removed both Rickelton and Tilak Varma in his opening over, finishing with 2 for 47, while Krunal Pandya produced a tactical masterclass against his brother Hardik, who was restricted to 40. RCB’s spinners combined for 3 for 73, outclassing their Mumbai counterparts across the middle overs.
Rutherford entered with the asking rate already steep and responded with one of the innings of the tournament, tearing into the RCB attack with six sixes in a devastating cameo. However, the target of 241 proved beyond Mumbai’s reach, with the hosts finishing on 222 for 5. The result also saw RCB set a new record for the highest IPL total posted at the Wankhede Stadium.
SOURCE: ESPNcricinfo, “IPL 2026: Rutherford blasts 71* off 31, but RCB still too much for Mumbai,” April 12, 2026
