The Mumbai Indians achieved a total of 121/2, with Rickelton scoring an unbeaten 62 runs. Kolkata Knight Riders were defeated by eight wickets as they could only manage to score 116 runs (with Raghuvanshi contributing 26 runs). Bowlers Ashwani and Chahar took four and two wickets respectively, with Russell being the only successful bowler for Kolkata with figures of 2-35.
In IPL 2025, Mumbai Indians (MI) secured their spot on the board with a dominant eight-wicket win against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Wankhede Stadium. This victory further strengthens their impressive record of 10-2 against KKR at this venue. Interestingly, it was the unexpected performance of debutant Ashwani Kumar, a fast bowler, who stole the show with remarkable figures of 4 for 24 and single-handedly dismissed KKR for a mere 116 runs.
It was a dream come true for debutant Ashwani.
At the age of 23, Ashwani was fairly new to the game and had only played four T20s prior to this one. Understandably, he felt anxious when he learned that he would be a part of this match. He skipped lunch, possibly due to his superstitions as a cricketer, especially considering how well the game went for him. In fact, he struck out the opposition captain Ajinkya Rahane with his very first ball and went on to bring down Rinku Singh and Andre Russell during what can only be described as a dream day for him. It’s safe to say that this league offers top-notch wickets for players like Ashwani.
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Ashwani’s resistance to being lined up was truly remarkable. His bowling action followed tradition. His speeds usually ranged from the early to mid 130s, a type of pace that typically gets pummeled in the IPL. Despite KKR’s efforts, they were unsuccessful in overpowering him.
Ashwani rose to fame thanks to his impressive displays in the Sher-E-Punjab T20 trophy last year, where he excelled in the death overs. Although he didn’t have the opportunity to bowl in that stage of the innings against KKR, Ashwani still demonstrated his ability to thrive under pressure and maintain a consistent length.
Rinku attempted to bring him down, but after using his feet and scoring four, he was caught on the deep-point boundary. Ashwani then adjusted his length to catch the batsman off guard. Russell also tried to take him down, clearing his front leg and hitting through the line, but was ultimately beaten by a bouncer and bowled by a 140kph pitched-up delivery that caught him off guard once again. Despite facing strong competition and pressure from skilled batters, Ashwani had a natural ability to switch up his lengths at just the right moments.
Boult’s love for the first over shows no signs of diminishing.
Ashwani’s impressive performance of tripling his career T20 wickets from two to six in one evening overshadowed everything else. However, it must be noted that he was taking full advantage of the solid foundation laid by two exceptional new-ball bowlers.
Trent Boult displayed his exceptional knack for claiming wickets in the opening over, a skill he has frequently demonstrated in the IPL. In this match, he secured a perfect start for his team by dismantling Sunil Narine’s stumps, making it the 30th time he has achieved this feat. Meanwhile, Deepak Chahar effectively neutralized Quinton de Kock’s strong suit of hitting balls at the stumps by adopting a wide line and inducing him to be caught at mid-off from the other end.
KKR persisted with their attack, well aware of the favorable conditions for chasing at the Wankhede Stadium. Despite losing early wickets, they maintained their aggressive approach in the first four overs, resulting in some successful shots and some misses. This is typical of modern T20 cricket – no holding back. The only exception was Rinku, who unfortunately fell after hitting a boundary, leaving KKR with only Russell and Ramandeep Singh as established batters with a significant portion of the innings remaining.
Rickelton is the hero of the day
Ryan Rickelton was unable to make solid contact with the first four deliveries he received. The beginning of his innings consisted of an inside edge, a top edge, and the realization that T20 cricket can be quite challenging. The pitch, which was initially expected to provide favorable conditions due to its speed and bounce, was instead being skillfully utilized by the fast bowlers on both teams.
In pursuit of a score of 117, Rickelton was able to wait for the right moment without feeling rushed. This chance presented itself when Harshit Rana’s eagerness for wickets resulted in a poorly executed slower-ball half-volley. Seizing the opportunity, Rickelton confidently hit a straight drive and maintained his momentum. He reached fifty with a powerful six off Narine and remained at the crease as Suryakumar Yadav secured victory with another six. However, Rohit Sharma experienced yet another disappointment, being dismissed for only 13 runs. The concerns surrounding his batting performance remain unresolved.
