The Wankhede Stadium will host its final game of the 2026 Indian Premier League (2026) when the Mumbai Indians (MI) take on the Rajasthan Royals (RR) in Match 69 on Sunday, May 24.
The five-time champions are ninth in the standings and cannot get any higher regardless of the outcome of the game. MI, however, will want to end their campaign with a win on their home soil in front of their faithful supporters.Â
RR, on the other hand, know that a win on Sunday guarantees them a place in the playoffs, where they would face the Sunrisers Hyderabad. The inaugural champions currently have 14 points from 13 matches to sit fourth.
Both MI and RR faced off against one another earlier this season in Guwahati, with the Royals securing a 27-run victory in a rain-affected game. With the match reduced to 11 overs per side, RR put 150 runs on the board, thanks to Yashasvi Jaiswal’s unbeaten 77. In reply, MI would only manage 123 whilst losing nine wickets in the process.Â
Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai: Pitch Report
An absolute batting paradise, the average first innings score at the Wankhede Stadium in the 2026 IPL season has been 222. However, even that cannot be guaranteed as a winning total, with SRH chasing down 244 earlier in this campaign. Bowlers can have some assistance, but the batters usually dominate the proceedings. With the stadium being extremely close to the Arabian Sea on the west, the sea breeze can help fast bowlers generate swing with the new ball.
IPL Stats and Records at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
| Matches Played |
131 |
| Matches Won Batting First |
58 |
| Matches Won Batting Second | 72 |
| Matches With No Result | 00 |
| Matches Tied | 01 |
| Average First Innings Score | 173 |
| Highest Team Total | 249/4 |
| Highest Total Successfully Chased | 243 |
MI vs RR: Strategies and Match-ups
Both MI and RR have well-balanced sides as the IPL draws to a conclusion. However, both sides have had contrasting seasons in 2026. The Royals have one of the most destructive top orders in combination with a lethal new-ball attack. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Jofra Archer have remained their side’s protagonists all season long with bat and ball, respectively. MI, on the other hand, have had a star-studded lineup which has not clicked at the right time. Jasprit Bumrah has averaged 102.50 with the ball, while Suryakumar Yadav has a mean score of 17.50.Â
Both MI and RR have faced each other 32 times in IPL history, with the Mumbai-based franchise edging out the head-to-head 16 wins to 15. RR, however, have a slightly better record in the last five meetings, with three wins to their name.Â
