The IPL 2025 season has kicked off in spectacular fashion, and Mumbai Indians (MI) registered a commanding eight-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. This triumph marks MI’s first win of the season, and they did so in style, completely dismantling KKR’s batting lineup and chasing down the target with ease.
Match Overview
Date: March 31, 2025
Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai
Result: Mumbai Indians won by 8 wickets
Player of the Match: Ashwani Kumar (MI)
Kolkata Knight Riders Innings: A Batting Collapse
KKR’s batting unit failed to build momentum, crumbling under relentless pressure from MI’s bowlers. They could only manage a total of 116 runs, with none of their batters able to settle at the crease.
KKR Batting Scorecard
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angkrish Raghuvanshi | 26 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 162.50 |
| Ajinkya Rahane (c) | 11 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 157.14 |
| Andre Russell | 9 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 75.00 |
| Sunil Narine | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Quinton de Kock | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Venkatesh Iyer | 3 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Rinku Singh | 5 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 83.33 |
| Ramandeep Singh | 15 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 83.33 |
| Pat Cummins | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 125.00 |
| Varun Chakravarthy | 8 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Lockie Ferguson | 4* | 5 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 |
MI Bowlers Rip Through KKR Lineup
MI’s bowlers put on a clinical display, with debutant Ashwani Kumar stealing the show with his outstanding spell.
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Dot Balls |
| Ashwani Kumar | 4 | 24 | 4 | 6.00 | 12 |
| Trent Boult | 3 | 20 | 1 | 6.67 | 9 |
| Deepak Chahar | 3 | 18 | 1 | 6.00 | 10 |
| Jasprit Bumrah | 3.5 | 28 | 2 | 7.30 | 8 |
| Hardik Pandya | 2 | 15 | 1 | 7.50 | 5 |
Ashwani Kumar’s debut was one for the record books, as he became the first Indian bowler to claim four wickets on IPL debut. His deadly accuracy and clever variations kept the KKR batters guessing.
Mumbai Indians Chase with Ease
Chasing a target of just 117, Mumbai Indians dominated from the start, wrapping up the game in just 12.5 overs.
MI Batting Scorecard
| Batsman | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
| Ryan Rickelton | 62* | 45 | 8 | 2 | 137.78 |
| Rohit Sharma | 25 | 15 | 3 | 1 | 166.67 |
| Suryakumar Yadav | 18 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 180.00 |
| Tilak Varma | 10* | 7 | 1 | 0 | 142.86 |
Ryan Rickelton played a fantastic knock, remaining unbeaten on 62 and steering MI to victory. The experienced Rohit Sharma provided early aggression, while Suryakumar Yadav ensured there were no hiccups in the chase.
KKR Bowling Struggles
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy | Dot Balls |
| Andre Russell | 4 | 35 | 2 | 8.75 | 10 |
| Pat Cummins | 3 | 28 | 0 | 9.33 | 7 |
| Sunil Narine | 2 | 20 | 0 | 10.00 | 4 |
| Varun Chakravarthy | 2 | 18 | 0 | 9.00 | 5 |
| Lockie Ferguson | 1.5 | 15 | 0 | 8.18 | 3 |
Andre Russell was the only bowler who managed to pick up wickets, but the rest of KKR’s attack looked toothless. The lack of early wickets meant MI had no trouble finishing off the chase.
Key Moments of the Match
Ashwani Kumar’s Dream Debut
The 22-year-old pacer made an immediate impact, dismissing KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane with his first delivery. He continued to dominate, finishing with 4/24 in four overs.
Ryan Rickelton’s Match-Winning Knock
Rickelton showcased his class with a composed yet aggressive 62* off 45 balls. His ability to handle KKR’s spinners and accelerate at the right moments sealed the game for MI.
MI’s Early Breakthroughs
Trent Boult struck early, removing Sunil Narine in the first over. Bumrah and Chahar then tightened the screws, ensuring KKR never got going.
KKR’s Middle-Order Collapse
With Andre Russell and Rinku Singh failing to contribute, KKR’s innings fell apart quickly, handing MI an easy win.
IPL 2025 Points Table Update
After this match, Mumbai Indians moved up the points table, while KKR faced an early setback.
| Team | Matches | Wins | Losses | Points | NRR |
| Mumbai Indians | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | +1.23 |
| Kolkata Knight Riders | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | -1.45 |
With this comprehensive victory, Mumbai Indians have announced their arrival in IPL 2025, while Kolkata Knight Riders need to regroup quickly before their next match.
