In a one-sided encounter on Monday, March 31, 2025, debutant Ashwani Kumar delivered a sensational performance to help Mumbai Indians (MI) demolish defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by eight wickets in the Indian Premier League (IPL). KKR crumbled to a paltry 116, a total MI chased down with ease, finishing the game with 43 balls to spare.
Opting to bowl first after winning the toss, MI’s bowling attack wasted no time in asserting dominance. Deepak Chahar set the tone with a fiery opening spell, removing Quinton de Kock (1) and Venkatesh Iyer (3) early in the innings. Trent Boult compounded KKR’s woes by dismissing the dangerous Sunil Narine for a duck, leaving the defending champions reeling.
It was Ashwani Kumar, however, who stole the show on his IPL debut. The young pacer ripped through KKR’s middle order with a devastating four-wicket haul, finishing with figures of 4 for 24. His victims included Ajinkya Rahane (11), Rinku Singh (17), Manish Pandey (19), and the big-hitting Andre Russell (5). Kumar’s ability to mix pace with precision left KKR’s batting lineup in disarray.
Despite a spirited 26 off 16 balls from youngster Angkrish Raghuvanshi and a late cameo of 22 from Ramandeep Singh, KKR could only muster 116 before being bowled out. Chahar supported Kumar brilliantly, ending with 2 for 19, as MI’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure throughout.
Chasing a modest 117, Mumbai Indians made the target look even smaller, thanks to a brisk 46-run stand between captain Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton. While Sharma struggled for fluency before falling to Andre Russell, Rickelton took charge with an unbeaten 62 off 41 balls. His knock, laced with five sixes and four boundaries, showcased his aggressive intent and silenced the KKR bowling attack.
Suryakumar Yadav then provided the finishing touch with a blistering 27 off just 9 balls, ensuring MI crossed the finish line in a mere 13 overs. The emphatic victory underlined Mumbai’s dominance in all departments.
Ashwani Kumar’s match-defining spell earned him the Player of the Match award, capping off a dream debut. For KKR, the loss exposed frailties in their batting, while MI signaled their intent early in the IPL 2025 season with a commanding performance.
