Mumbai, April 1, 2025 – Mumbai Indians marked their homecoming at Wankhede Stadium with a commanding bowling display, thrashing defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Match 12 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The highlight of the night was the sensational debut of Ashwani Kumar, who ripped through KKR’s batting lineup with a stunning four-wicket haul (4/24), making him the first Indian bowler to claim four wickets on IPL debut.
Skipper Hardik Pandya’s decision to field first proved spot on as Mumbai capitalized on the pitch’s early assistance. Ashwani, a 23-year-old left-arm seamer from Jhanjeri, Punjab, showcased impeccable control and variations, dismissing key KKR batters, including Manish Pandey and Andre Russell. His short-length deliveries and extra bounce left the opposition struggling to put up a competitive total.
KKR’s Batting Collapse
Mumbai’s bowling unit set the tone early, with Trent Boult cleaning up Sunil Narine for a golden duck in the first over. Deepak Chahar followed up by dismissing Quinton de Kock (1) in the next over, with Ashwani Kumar taking a sharp catch.
Ashwani made an immediate impact with the ball, striking with his very first IPL delivery to send Ajinkya Rahane (11) back. From 41/4 at the end of the powerplay, KKR kept losing wickets at regular intervals, eventually folding for just 116 in 16.2 overs. Angkrish Raghuvanshi (26) and Ramandeep Singh (22) were the only notable contributors.
Key Wickets:
- Ajinkya Rahane (11) – Caught at deep backward point off Ashwani Kumar
- Venkatesh Iyer (7) – Edged behind to Ryan Rickelton off Chahar
- Manish Pandey (19) – Played onto his stumps against Ashwani
- Andre Russell (5) – Trapped by a well-set fullish delivery from Ashwani
- Rinku Singh (17) – Mistimed a short ball straight to deep point
Vignesh Puthur (1/15) and Chahar (2/19) also played crucial roles, ensuring KKR never found momentum.
Brief Scores:
Kolkata Knight Riders: 116 all out in 16.2 overs (Angkrish Raghuvanshi 26, Ramandeep Singh 22; Ashwani Kumar 4/24, Deepak Chahar 2/19)
With a modest total to chase, Mumbai Indians are well-positioned to seal an easy win and continue their momentum in IPL 2025. Stay tuned for further updates!
