Some IPL nights feel like they’ll never end — and for fans at Wankhede Stadium on April 12, 2026, that was very much the reality. The clash between Mumbai Indians (MI) and Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), which kicked off at 7:30 PM IST, stretched well past three and a half gruelling hours — and for a very unusual reason. It wasn’t just big hits and tight finishes; it was wides, no-balls, reviews, and physio stoppages that made this one for the record books.
Table of Contents
MI vs RCB Match Overview
| Detail | Info |
|---|---|
| Match | MI vs RCB, IPL 2026 — Match 20 |
| Date & Time | April 12, 2026 |
| Venue | Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai |
| Total Balls Bowled | 262 |
| MI Balls Bowled | 132 (11 wides, 1 no-ball) |
| RCB Balls Bowled | 130 (9 wides, 1 no-ball) |
| RCB Score | 240/4 in 20 overs |
| MI Score | 222/5 (fell short by 18 runs) |
| Result | RCB won |
How Did This Happen?
A T20 match is supposed to last around 3 hours. So what went wrong — or rather, what went wild — on April 12? The combination of a very high volume of extras, multiple DRS reviews, and time lost to on-field player injury stoppages pushed the ball count to 262 deliveries — making it the third-longest IPL match ever by balls bowled.
According to Wikipedia’s article on the Indian Premier League, the tournament has always prioritized fast-paced cricket, making this match an unusual statistical outlier in IPL history.
Top 5 Longest IPL Matches by Balls Bowled
| Date | Teams | Total Balls |
|---|---|---|
| April 15, 2024 | RCB vs SRH | 265 🥇 |
| April 8, 2025 | KKR vs LSG | 264 🥈 |
| April 12, 2026 | MI vs RCB | 262 🥉 |
| March 23, 2025 | RR vs SRH | 262 |
| April 19, 2015 | MI vs RCB | 262 |
Remarkably, MI and RCB have now featured in three of the five longest IPL matches ever played — this rivalry clearly has a habit of running long!
The Match Story — Heroes, Heartbreaks & Rutherfords Blitz
RCB came out firing with Phil Salt setting the tone at the top, followed by a quick-fire 38-ball fifty from Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar’s fastest IPL half-century. The defending champions posted a daunting 240/4.
MI’s chase started falling apart early — Rohit Sharma retired hurt in the 5th over with a hamstring injury, and the middle order of Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Naman Dhir failed to fire. Hardik Pandya tried his best but was dismissed for 40. The lone bright spot was Sherfane Rutherford, whose blistering unbeaten 71 off 31 balls (9 sixes!) gave the scoreline some respectability, but MI still fell short at 222/5.
Stay up to date with all IPL 2026 records, results and analysis at TechnoSports — your ultimate cricket companion.
FAQs
Q: How many balls were bowled in the MI vs RCB IPL 2026 match on April 12?
A total of 262 balls were bowled, making it the joint-third longest match in IPL history by deliveries.
Q: Which is the longest IPL match ever by balls bowled?
The RCB vs SRH match on April 15, 2024 holds the record with 265 total balls bowled in a single game.
