Ryan Rickelton's 123* sets a new Mumbai Indians record in IPL 2026

Ryan Rickelton walked out to bat at Wankhede Stadium on Wednesday night and produced the best innings ever by a Mumbai Indians batter in IPL history. His 123 not out off 55 balls against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Match 41 of IPL 2026 broke a record that had stood since the very first season of the tournament. Sanath Jayasuriya scored 114 for MI back in 2008. Rickelton went past that, and then kept going.

The innings did not save MI in the end. They posted 243 for 5, their highest total while batting first in IPL history, and still lost. SRH chased it down with six wickets and eight balls to spare. That context matters, because it tells you everything about how brutal this Sunrisers batting lineup has become. But it should not take anything away from what Rickelton did with the bat.

How the innings unfolded

Rickelton opened alongside Will Jacks, and the two of them turned the first six overs into a statement. MI scored 78 in the powerplay, their second-highest powerplay total of the season. Rickelton ended the first six overs on 37 off 18 balls. Jacks was equally aggressive, finishing the powerplay on 38 off 18. The partnership produced 93 runs off just 43 deliveries before Jacks was dismissed for 46.

From that point, Rickelton simply stayed at the crease and kept scoring. He reached his half-century comfortably, then shifted gears again in the back half of the innings. His century came up in 44 balls, which is the fastest hundred by any MI batter in IPL history. He finished with 123 not out off 55 balls, hitting ten fours and eight sixes across the entire innings. The strike rate was 223.6.

Rickelton batted through all 20 overs. That kind of innings anchoring from an opener who also scores at that rate is rare in T20 cricket. Most batters who score that fast are gone inside ten overs. He was there at the end, finishing the last over strong and giving MI a total they had every right to feel good about.

The record he broke and why it matters

Sanath Jayasuriya's 114 for Mumbai Indians in the inaugural IPL season in 2008 had survived sixteen editions of the tournament. In that time, MI have fielded some of the biggest names in world cricket. Sachin Tendulkar, Rohit Sharma, Kieron Pollard, Hardik Pandya, Quinton de Kock, and many others all wore that blue jersey and none of them managed to cross 114 in a single innings. Rickelton, playing only his second season in the IPL, did it in April 2026.

He also became the fastest MI batter to reach a century in the tournament, getting there three balls quicker than the previous fastest. These are not records that get broken often. The combination of batting first, staying unbeaten, and doing it in a high-pressure match at Wankhede makes the performance stand out further.

Rickelton's difficult start to IPL 2026

This innings did not come from a batter in the middle of a purple patch. Rickelton had started IPL 2026 brilliantly with 81 against Kolkata Knight Riders in the opening game, but then scored in single digits in three of his next four matches. That run of form saw him dropped from the playing XI, with Quinton de Kock taking his spot at the top of the order.

When de Kock's form also dipped, Rickelton was recalled for Match 41. He responded with the best innings of his IPL career. That kind of response after a stint on the bench requires composure and a clear head, and Rickelton showed both in abundance.

What it means for MI's season

Mumbai Indians are in a difficult position. Two wins from nine matches puts them seventh on the IPL 2026 points table with just 4 points. Even with Rickelton firing, their bowling has repeatedly let them down at the death. Against SRH, they conceded 249 in 18.4 overs while defending 243. That is not a batting failure. That is a structural problem with the bowling lineup.

The good news for MI is that Rickelton has re-established himself as their best batting option at the top. If he can put together two or three more innings like this in the remaining games, MI at least give themselves a chance of finishing on a high, even if the playoffs are effectively out of reach. His next match will come in the next few days as MI's schedule continues into early May.