Just eight games into the season, MI were already into the fourth opening partnership, this time with Will Jacks and Rickelton. Their powerplay run-rate of 8.55 coming into this game was the fourth-worst of the season. But it was fourth-time lucky for MI.

The two immediately found the pace of the surface, matching each other shot for shot. Jacks ended the first six overs on 38 off 18 with five fours and two sixes; Rickelton ended with 37 off 18 with three fours and three sixes. MI amassed 78 in the powerplay, their second-highest score this season in this phase.

MI raced to 93 in just seven overs but Nitish Kumar Reddy struck a timely blow, getting Jacks to edge a fuller ball to the wicketkeeper. Suryakumar Yadav’s rotten season continued as he top-edged an Eshan Malinga bouncer to deep-backward square leg but Rickelton wasn’t relenting. He began his IPL 2026 with an 81 against Kolkata Knight Riders, but three single-digit scores in the next four games and Quinton de Kock’s surge in form forced him to spend time on the sidelines. But with de Kock injured, Rickelton was back and how.

When Reddy dismissed Jacks, Rickelton struck him for a four and six in the same over to reach a 23-ball half-century, his quickest in the IPL. Pat Cummins and Sakib Hussain were both picked for boundaries before Harsh Dubey was thumped for back-to-back sixes. Rickelton raced through the nineties by thumping Reddy for a four and six in the 15th over and then reached a maiden IPL ton in 44 balls, the quickest by a MI batter ever. He struck at 300 against Reddy [24 off eight], 314.28 against Dubey [22 off seven] and 270 against Hinge [27 off ten]. At the other end, Hardik Pandya also found form, as MI raced to 202 for 3 after 16.

But SRH made a fine comeback in the death overs, led by Malinga, who finished with 1 for 29, an economy of just 7.25. Cummins also bowled a boundary-less 17th over but Rickelton ended the innings on a high with a six and four. Despite that MI added just 41 in the last four overs.