Sports
The king vs the hitman: Five iconic RCB-MI clashes that defined IPL rivalry
From Wankhede thrillers to Super Over drama, Kohli and Rohit reignite rivalry ahead
MUMBAI: Cricket’s fiercest modern rivalry is set to return as Royal Challengers Bengaluru take on Mumbai Indians on April 12, 2026, reigniting a contest that has come to define the emotional core of the Indian Premier League.
Beyond points and playoff equations, this fixture has become synonymous with the duel between two of Indian cricket’s biggest names, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. One carries the reputation of relentless pursuit, the other the legacy of five title-winning campaigns, and together they have turned this rivalry into appointment viewing.
Over the years, RCB and MI have delivered moments that live long in the memory. From record-breaking partnerships to last-ball finishes, the contest has repeatedly swung between dominance and drama.
In 2015 at Wankhede, Kohli and AB de Villiers produced a breathtaking 215-run stand, dismantling Mumbai’s attack and setting a benchmark for IPL batting brilliance. Three years later in 2018, Rohit Sharma answered with authority, smashing 94 off 52 balls after MI were rocked early, steering his side to a commanding total.
The 2020 Dubai encounter added a new layer of tension as the match went into a Super Over. Kohli held his nerve against Jasprit Bumrah in a finish that showcased fine margins and sharper tactical battles between the two sides.
Controversy followed in 2019 when a missed no-ball call on the final delivery handed MI a narrow win. A fuming Virat Kohli famously stated,, “We are not playing club cricket,” reflecting the intensity and stakes of the rivalry.
More recently, in 2025, RCB finally broke their long-standing Wankhede jinx, securing their first win at the venue in a decade and signalling what many fans called a shift in momentum.
With the next chapter set to unfold, anticipation is building once again. Whether it is Kohli’s elegance under pressure or Rohit’s calm leadership, this fixture continues to deliver theatre, tension and turning points in equal measure.
As the teams prepare to clash again, fans can expect another high-voltage evening where reputations are tested and history is never far away.
Sports
IPL 19 TV Ad Volumes Rise 10 per cent Despite Fewer Brands
Google storms top spot as e-com services and mouth fresheners lead charge in four-match clash with IPL 18.
MUMBAI: Google has bowled a perfect googly in the IPL 19 ad arena while the batsmen chased sixes on the field, the search giant has quietly smashed the biggest boundary of all, claiming 12.67 per cent of commercial airtime and leaving rivals gasping. Overall television ad volumes for the four live matches of IPL 19 hit an indexed 109.94 compared with IPL 18’s baseline of 100, a crisp 9.94 per cent jump that proves advertisers still see cricket’s biggest stage as the ultimate pitch. Yet the numbers tell a more nuanced tale. Categories slimmed from 47 to 40 (a 14.9 per cent drop) and advertisers shrank from 58 to 43 (down 25.9 per cent), suggesting a leaner, meaner battle where the survivors are spending smarter.
The new pecking order makes for fascinating reading. In IPL 19, Ecom-Other Services surged to the summit with 13.78 per cent share, nudging out perennial favourite Mouth Fresheners (13.57 per cent). Air Conditioners (5.94 per cent), Corporate-Financial Institutes (5.69 per cent) and Paints (5.23 per cent) rounded out the top five, elbowing aside last season’s heavy hitters. Back in IPL 18, Mouth Fresheners led at 10.73 per cent, followed by Ecom-Gaming (10.62 per cent), Cellular Phones-Smart Phones (7.83 per cent), Biscuits (7.66 per cent) and Cars (6.60 per cent).
On the advertiser leaderboard, Google’s 12.67 per cent dominance is unassailable. Reliance Consumer Products (7.28 per cent) took silver, Havells India (5.94 per cent) bronze, while Vishnu Packaging (5.56 per cent) and K P Pan Foods (4.80 per cent) completed the top five. Contrast that with IPL 18, where Parle Biscuits (7.66 per cent) topped the chart, followed by Vishnu Packaging (5.92 per cent), Apple Computer India (5.52 per cent), Reliance Consumer Products (5.31 per cent) and Billion Brains Garage Ventures (4.52 per cent).
Fresh blood has clearly refreshed the mix. Nine entirely new categories and a whopping 45 new brands entered the fray. Among the debutants making an instant splash: Chocolates, Laptops/Notebooks, Range of Hair Care, Corporate-Pharma/Healthcare and Footwear. Stand-out new brands include Google Search Engine, Google Gemini, Lloyd Designer AC, Cadbury’s Dairy Milk Chocolate, Hero Splendor Plus Range and Joy Hello Sun Sunblock Anti-Tan Lotion, proof that even the most unexpected players are now eyeing cricket’s captive millions.
Conversely, 16 categories sat out IPL 19, including former stalwarts Ecom-Gaming, Cellular Phones-Smart Phones, Biscuits, Airlines and Fans. The message is clear: the ad economy is evolving faster than a T20 run-chase.
So while the on-field drama delivers its usual thrills, the commercial breaks are delivering something even more compelling, a masterclass in how to turn 22 yards of grass into serious brand territory. IPL 19 has shown that when the right mix of innovation and investment meets cricket fever, the ad scoreboard lights up in ways even the most optimistic analysts might not have predicted.
