Most 50+ scores as wicketkeeper in IPL innings is now a list topped by KL Rahul with 32 and Quinton de Kock closing in with 25. On Thursday night, de Kock added another big entry and made it count in his first game of the season.
Powerplay chaos gives way to de Kock switching gears
Quinton de Kock came in as a replacement for Rohit Sharma, who missed out, and he did not waste the chance. He reached his fifty quickly and then carried on to a hundred in 53 balls, finishing unbeaten on 101. It was not a slow build. He struck seven fours and seven sixes, kept the scoring moving and did not let Punjab Kings settle after their decision to bowl first.
Arshdeep Singh gave Punjab a strong start with two wickets in two balls, but de Kock was already set by then. He survived a run-out chance and a dropped catch, and from there the innings tilted. Chahal was taken on, Bartlett was not spared either, and the field spread did not help.
Naman Dhir builds, Shashank Singh breaks through again
Mumbai’s middle overs were held up by Naman Dhir, who played a sharp 50 off 31 balls. His partnership with de Kock reached 122 for the third wicket, the third-highest stand for Mumbai Indians at Wankhede against Punjab Kings in the IPL. It ended when Shashank Singh struck again, removing him for a well-compiled half-century. It was the second match in a row where Shashank broke a set partnership.
The damage had already been done. Chahal finished with expensive figures and Punjab’s bowlers kept leaking runs once de Kock got going. The left-hander reached three figures with a reverse lap past the keeper, a shot that summed up his control of the innings rather than risk.
Mumbai Indians keep momentum, Punjab Kings lose grip after early strikes
Mumbai Indians reached 169 for 3 in 17 overs, with Hardik Pandya at the other end trying to push late acceleration. The innings had two clear phases: early wickets inside the powerplay, then de Kock taking over once he settled.
Punjab Kings will feel they had control for a short spell, but it did not last. Once de Kock found timing, the asking rate for Mumbai never really dropped out of sight, even after the wickets.