Mumbai Indians (MI) finally got their first victory of the IPL 2025 season defeating Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by eight wickets at Wankhede Stadium on Monday, March 31.
The match saw debutant Ashwani Kumar deliver a memorable performance, claiming four wickets for just 24 runs. The chase for MI was led by Ryan Rickelton with an unbeaten 62 runs off 41 balls.
MI chased down KKR’s modest target of 117 in just 12.5 overs, marking a much-needed turnaround after two consecutive losses.
Ashwani Kumar’s Dream Debut
The Mumbai Indians’ decision to bowl first after winning the toss proved to be spot-on. The bowlers of MI dismantled the reigning champions Kolkata Knight Riders for a mere 116 runs in 16.2 overs.
Leading the charge for the innings was Ashwani Kumar, a left-arm seamer playing his first IPL match. The 23-year-old bowler made an immediate impact, dismissing KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane with his very first delivery. He followed this up with crucial wickets of Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey, and Andre Russell, finishing with figures of 4/24—the best by an Indian bowler on IPL debut.
Ashwani’s efforts were complemented by MI’s experienced pacers Deepak Chahar (2/19) and Trent Boult (1/23), who removed openers Quinton de Kock and Sunil Narine early in the innings. Top class fielding by Naman Dhir also played a vital role, with three sharp catches that kept the pressure firmly on KKR.
Despite contributions from Angkrish Raghuvanshi (26 runs off 16 balls) and Ramandeep Singh (22 runs off 12 balls), KKR’s batting lineup failed to build lasting partnerships, and could not set a competitive target.
Rickelton and Suryakumar Seal the Chase
Mumbai Indians approached the chase confidently, with openers Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton providing a steady start. Although Rohit was dismissed for 13 by Andre Russell, Rickelton took charge of the innings, smashing four boundaries and five sixes en route to his maiden IPL fifty. His aggressive batting ensured MI maintained a brisk scoring rate throughout.
Suryakumar Yadav joined Rickelton towards the end, scoring an unbeaten 27 runs off just nine balls. He sealed the victory in style by scooping an Andre Russell delivery over the wicketkeeper’s head for six.
MI wrapped up the chase at 121/2 in just 12.5 overs, securing their first win of the season with a significant boost to their net run rate. The victory propelled them from tenth to sixth position in the points table, while KKR slipped to last place.
