Former India captain Rohit Sharma marked his return to the Mumbai Indians lineup in style, scoring a blistering 84 off 44 balls to help secure a six-wicket win over the Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League on Monday.

Returning after missing five matches due to a hamstring injury, Rohit formed a dominant opening partnership with Ryan Rickelton, who delivered an explosive 83 off 32 balls. The duo set the tone for Mumbai’s record chase at the Wankhede Stadium.

After winning the toss, Mumbai Indians chose to bowl first and were set a challenging target as Lucknow posted 228 for five. Mitchell Marsh contributed 44, while Nicholas Pooran produced a rapid 63 off just 21 deliveries. Himmat Singh also added a steady 40 to keep the innings on track.

In response, Mumbai’s opening pair came out aggressively. Rohit struck six fours and seven sixes, while Rickelton matched the intensity with six fours and eight sixes, capitalizing on the batting-friendly conditions.

Rickelton was eventually dismissed by Mohsin Khan, followed by Rohit falling to M. Siddharth. However, Mumbai maintained control of the chase as Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav stabilized the innings. Late contributions from Naman Dhir and Will Jacks ensured Mumbai completed the chase with eight balls to spare.

Suryakumar Yadav led the team in place of regular captain Hardik Pandya, who missed the match due to illness.

Rickelton, who was named Player of the Match, praised his opening partner after the win.

“One of Mumbai’s greatest, one of India’s greatest. I have enjoyed batting with him,” Rickelton said. “My game suits this ground. The ball really flies here. We are always looking to improve. The power we have is through the roof, and with the class in this team, it makes my role clearer.”

Mumbai had struggled during Rohit’s absence, but his return proved decisive as the team completed the highest successful run chase in IPL history. The result also ended Lucknow’s difficult run, marking their sixth straight defeat.

The five-time champions remain ninth in the standings with six points from 10 matches, while Lucknow sit at the bottom with four points in the 10-team tournament. The top four teams at the end of the league stage qualify for the playoffs.

-Reporting by Pearl Josephine Nazare in Bengaluru; editing by Pritha Sarkar/Reuters