Mumbai Indians (MI) finally broke their winless streak in IPL 2025 with a stunning performance against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium. The match saw debutant Ashwani Kumar deliver a sensational bowling spell, while Ryan Rickelton anchored the chase with a rapid fifty, as MI cruised to an eight-wicket victory with 43 balls to spare.
Ashwani Kumar: A debut to remember
Kumar, the young left-arm pacer from Punjab, made an unforgettable debut for Mumbai Indians. His three-over spell wreaked havoc on KKR’s batting line-up, as he claimed four crucial wickets for just 24 runs. Kumar struck gold on his very first ball, dismissing Ajinkya Rahane with a short-pitched delivery that forced a mistimed shot into the hands of Tilak Varma. This rare feat placed him among the elite list of bowlers who have taken a wicket on their first IPL ball.
Kumar’s scalps included big names like Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey, and Andre Russell. His deceptive bouncers and pinpoint yorkers left KKR’s batters struggling to find rhythm. The highlight of his spell was the dismissal of Russell, where Kumar bowled a sharp delivery that uprooted the stumps, further denting KKR’s hopes of a competitive total. With this stellar performance, Kumar became the first Indian bowler to take four wickets on IPL debut, earning accolades from fans and experts alike.
Ryan Rickelton’s rapid-fire fifty
While Kumar dominated with the ball, Rickelton stole the show with the bat during MI’s chase. Opening alongside Rohit Sharma, Rickelton showcased his aggressive intent from the start, smashing boundaries and clearing the ropes effortlessly. His innings of 62 not out off just 41 balls featured four fours and five towering sixes, maintaining a strike rate of 151.21.
Rickelton reached his fifty in just 33 balls, keeping MI well ahead of the required run rate throughout the chase. After Rohit’s dismissal for 13 and Will Jacks falling for 16, Rickelton partnered with Suryakumar Yadav to seal the victory. Yadav contributed with an explosive cameo of 27 runs off nine balls, including three fours and two sixes at an astonishing strike rate of 300.
MI’s dominant victory over KKR
The game started with KKR opting to bat first but faltering under pressure from MI’s disciplined bowling attack. Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar provided early breakthroughs before Kumar stepped in to decimate KKR’s middle order. Despite brief resistance from Angkrish Raghuvanshi (26 off 16) and Ramandeep Singh (22 off 12), KKR were bundled out for just 116 in 16.2 overs.
Chasing a modest target of 117, MI began aggressively during the powerplay, scoring 55 runs for one wicket in six overs. Rickelton’s commanding knock ensured there were no hiccups in the chase as MI reached 121/2 in just 12.5 overs.
This victory marked MI’s first win of IPL 2025 and showcased their potential to bounce back strongly after a string of losses. Fans erupted in joy as Kumar’s fiery debut and Rickelton’s explosive batting gave them hope for a promising campaign ahead.
Also WATCH: MI debutant Ashwani Kumar bags maiden wicket on his first ball in IPL 2025
Here’s how fans reacted:
MI fans sleeping tonight knowing they are ahead of CSK#MIvKKR pic.twitter.com/sqPoZGVmIL
— Abhay (@KaunHaiAbhay) March 31, 2025
Ryan Rickelton on Wankhede & SKY’s Magic!💙🗣️ “Unbelievable! First time at Wankhede, the crowd turned it blue. Loving it here!”(On SKY’s shot) “Told Quinny – SKY is a joke! Stuff I can’t do, stuff I can’t even dream of. I’m just glad he’s in our team!”#MIvKKR #KKRvsMI #IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/bOrrlqzxxb
— Yogesh Goswami (@yogeshgoswami_) March 31, 2025
ASHWANI KUMAR WINS POTM AWARD ON HIS IPL DEBUT. 👏#IPL2025 #TATAIPL2025 #MIvKKR pic.twitter.com/CBEvuEyKTg
— Nishu Gautam (@NishuGautam10) March 31, 2025
MI make a strong statement! 💙8-wicket win over KKR 💯
What a performance! 👌🔥 #MIvKKRpic.twitter.com/9dfEMiDI8S
— Beauty Of Heart (@BeautyOfHeart01) March 31, 2025
Skills 🤝 Confidence 🤝 Impact
A 𝟒-𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 performance on debut for Ashwani Kumar bags him the Player of the Match award 🏆
Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/iEwchzEpDk#TATAIPL | #MIvKKR | @mipaltan pic.twitter.com/Gosrgs3OuF
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 31, 2025
We are Back 💙🔥@mipaltan 🦁#MumbaiIndians #PlayLikeMumbai #TATAIPL #MIvKKRpic.twitter.com/HBVuWJ32Qj
— Gokul ❤️🐉 (@AJITHIAN__) March 31, 2025
TAKE THAT KISS , PALTANS 🧿🩵#MIvKKRpic.twitter.com/hrRGmHNKUb
— Arun Vijay (@AVinthehousee) March 31, 2025
Absolute dominance from start to end. 😎💙#MumbaiIndians #PlayLikeMumbai #TATAIPL #MIvKKR pic.twitter.com/urh6n7opu4
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan) March 31, 2025
A dream debut for Ashwani Kumar 👏#AshwaniKumar #MIvsKKR #IPL2025 pic.twitter.com/CRlOT6TBWR
— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) March 31, 2025
Mark your attendance in replies Mumbai Indians Paltan. How are we feeling tonight. 💙#MIvKKR #MIvsKKR pic.twitter.com/P5TIeyGta9
— Mumbai Indians FC (@MIPaltanFamily) March 31, 2025
