Let’s rewind the clock, Paltan – all the way back to 14th May, 2008.

The magical evening that every Mumbai Indians fan who’s been there since Day 1 will remember with a big, wide grin. 😁 The opposition? None other than Chennai Super Kings. The venue? आपला fortress, Wankhede. The vibe? Bole toh एक नंबर!

That very day, Sanath Jayasuriya set IPL’s inaugural season on fire, smashing Mumbai Indians’ maiden century. And boy, what a knock it was! The Sri Lankan legend was in beast mode, hammering the CSK bowlers all around the park like it was backyard cricket.

The Southpaw’s unbeaten 114 off just 48 balls, graced with nine fours and 11 maximums, was a glorious mix of elegance and swagger. Sixes were flying into the stands, Paltan were on their feet and a new chapter in MI’s history was being written. Oh, the memories…

But, hold on! That isn’t the only significance of 14th May, 2008…

It was also the debut game for the “Master Blaster” himself – Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar.

Our icon, our pride, walking out in Blue & Gold for the very first time donning the captain’s hat, at his home ground, against CSK – it couldn’t have been more poetic. The massive roar from the crowd and the Sachin Sachinnnn chants when he stepped out was a moment in itself. 🙌

…and that marked our first victory over CSK in IPL history! A rivalry which, over the years, produced ABSOLUTE CINEMA contests before “absolute cinema” was even a thing! 🏏