MI batter Rohit Sharma plays a shot during the IPL 2025
cricket match between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders, in Mumbai,
Monday, March 31, 2025.
- MUMBAI — Ashwani
Kumar's record four wicket-haul on IPL debut and Ryan Rickelton's 62 not out
powered Mumbai Indians to a commanding eight-wicket win over Kolkata Knight
Riders here on Monday.
- The 23-year-old Ashwani from Punjab’s Jhanjeri became the
first Indian ever to to take four wickets on IPL debut as he ended with figures
of 3-0-24-4 to blow away KKR’s star-studded batting lineup.
- With only four senior T20 matches in his kitty apart from
four List A games and two Ranji Trophy matches, Ashwani’s rich returns heralded
the domination shown by MI’s seamers.
Also read: Indian Premier League 2025: Prasidh & Siraj star as Gujarat Titans get off the mark with brilliant 36-run win over Mumbai Indians
- Deepak Chahar (2/19), Trent Boult (1/23) and Hardik Pandya
(1/10) ensured a collective bowling performance as KKR crumbled for the lowest
total of this season, rolling over for just 116 in 16.2 overs.
- Even as Rohit Sharma (13) endured another forgettable
outing, Ryan Rickelton (62 not out off 41 balls, 4x4s, 5x6s) made his first
impact on the IPL stage as Mumbai Indians went over the line with 7.1 overs to
spare.
- Suryakumar Yadav hit a quick 9-ball 27 not out and ended the
game with a six behind the wicket.
- The left-handed South African Rickelton survived initial
challenges from KKR pacers to fight back with a flurry of boundaries for his
maiden half-century in the competition and helping his side record their first
win of the season.
- Left-arm seamer Ashwani accounted for Ajinkya Rahane (11),
Rinku Singh (17), impact sub Manish Pandey (17) and Andre Russell (5) to break
the Knight Riders’ back after Chahar and Boult made early inroads in the
powerplay.
