Mumbai Indians (MI) are usually one of the favourites ahead of every Indian Premier League (IPL) season, given their successful record in the tournament.
Having not won a single IPL trophy till 2013, the Men in Blue and Gold won their title in 2013, defeating the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) in a repeat of the 2010 final.
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Since then, they have gone on to add four more IPL trophies to their glowing cabinet. Wins in 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020 put MI right at the top of the crop when it comes to the team with most IPL titles (5).
CSK are the only other team to have won five IPL titles, with their most recent success coming in the previous season.
As successful as MI have been in the past decade, there has been one (minor) concern which has become a disturbing pattern for the five-time champions.
How many opening games have Mumbai Indians lost since 2013?
Since 2013, MI have lost 100% of their first games in an IPL season. The trend began following a closely-contested battle against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in 2013, which MI lost by 2 runs.
It's important to recognize MI's tenacity throughout the competition, despite their unimpressive opening match record.
They may have struggled at first, but they have won the trophy five times, demonstrating that early defeats do not always determine the season's fate. Their courage and the never-say-die attitude deserve plaudits, and that is exactly why it's foolish to count them down and out even though they lose a few matches initially.
Let's take a look at their record in opening games since 2013:
| Year | Opponent | Result | MI's finish at the end of the season |
| 2013 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Lost by 2 runs | Champions |
| 2014 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Lost by 41 runs | Playoffs |
| 2015 | Kolkata Knight Riders | Lost by 7 wickets | Champions |
| 2016 | Rising Pune Supergiants | Lost by 9 wickets | 5th |
| 2017 | Rising Pune Supergiants | Lost by 7 wickets | Champions |
| 2018 | Chennai Super Kings | Lost by 1 wicket | 5th |
| 2019 | Delhi Capitals | Lost by 37 runs | Champions |
| 2020 | Chennai Super Kings | Lost by 5 wickets | Champions |
| 2021 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Lost by 2 wickets | 5th |
| 2022 | Delhi Capitals | Lost by 4 wickets | 10th |
| 2023 | Royal Challengers Bengaluru | Lost by 8 wickets | Playoffs |
| 2024 | Gujarat Titans | Lost by 6 runs | - |
Note: Rising Pune Supergiants are now defunct.
Who did Mumbai Indians face in their first game in IPL 2024?
MI faced Gujarat Titans (GT) in their opening game of IPL 2024. The match was played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, March 24.
GT made their debut in IPL in 2022 and won the trophy in their first season itself. Last season, they lost the final to CSK.
All eyes were on Hardik Pandya, who was bought back by MI for IPL 2024. Pandya became MI's new captain, replacing Rohit Sharma, who served as the skipper since 2013.
In a nail-biting finish, GT edged out MI by six runs.
