IPL 2025: KKR fold for 116 as Mumbai romp to first win

Mumbai Indians (MI) got on the board in IPL 2025 with an eight-wicket victory over defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) which took their record against those opponents at the Wankhede Stadium to 10-2.

The win was set up by the most unlikely source. A fast bowler named Ashwani Kumar picked up the best figures by an Indian on IPL debut – 4 for 24 – to knock KKR over for 116 all out.

Debutant Ashwani’s dream day

Ashwani is 23 years old. He had played only two T20s before. Naturally, he was nervous when he was told he would be playing this game. He didn’t eat lunch. It’s possible he may never do so on any match day given how well he performed and how superstitious cricketers can be.

Ashwani picked up a wicket with his first ball, and it was the opposition captain Ajinkya Rahane. Over the course of a dream day, he took down Rinku Singh and Andre Russell as well. This league does not present any higher quality of wickets.

Ashwani has an orthodox bowling action. His speeds were largely in the early to mid 130kph.

Those are the kind of bowlers that get smashed around in the IPL. But try as they might, KKR were never able to do it.

Ashwani came to prominence because of his performances in the Sher-E-Punjab T20 trophy last year, when he displayed an affinity for the death overs.

Ashwani didn’t really bowl in that phase of the innings against KKR, but he did show why he could find success in high-pressure situations. It was his control of length.

Rinku tried to take him down, but one ball after coming down the track and hitting him for four, he was caught on the deep-point boundary. Ashwani pulled his length back to surprise the batter. Russell tried to take him down, but one ball after clearing his front leg and smacking him through the line, he was beaten by a bouncer and then knocked over by a 140kph good-length delivery that surprised the batter again.

Boult continues romance

Ashwani tripling his career tally of wickets – from two to six – over the course of one evening relegated everything else to the side. But he was merely exploiting a lovely platform set by two high-quality new-ball bowlers.

Trent Boult once again showed off the freakish ability he has to take wickets in the first over. For the 30th time in the IPL, he provided his team with a perfect start, this time by rearranging Sunil Narine’s stumps.

From the other end, Deepak Chahar took away Quinton de Kock’s strengths – hitting straight balls over square leg – by keeping the ball well outside off, and having him caught at mid-off. (ESPNcricinfo)