MI vs KKR / Mumbai tasted victory at home, defeated Kolkata by eight wickets

MI vs KKR: Mumbai Indians kicked off their IPL 2025 campaign in style with a commanding 8-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders at Wankhede Stadium on Monday. With this victory, Mumbai not only began their journey on a high note but also made a significant jump in the points table.

Kolkata’s Struggles with the Bat

Winning the toss, Mumbai Indians opted to bowl first, and their bowlers justified the decision brilliantly. Kolkata Knight Riders were bundled out for just 116 runs in 16.2 overs. Angkrish Raghuvanshi was the top scorer for KKR with 26 runs, while Ramandeep Singh contributed 22 runs.

Debutant Ashwini Kumar was the star for Mumbai, delivering a sensational spell of 4 wickets for 24 runs in 3 overs. He became the first Indian bowler to claim 4 wickets in an IPL debut match. Deepak Chahar picked up 2 wickets, while Trent Boult, Hardik Pandya, Vignesh Puthur, and Mitchell Santner chipped in with one wicket each.

Mumbai’s Comfortable Chase

Chasing a modest target of 117, Mumbai Indians reached the finish line in just 12.5 overs with 8 wickets in hand. Openers Rohit Sharma and Ryan Rickelton provided a solid start, forging a 46-run partnership for the first wicket.

Rohit Sharma departed for 13 runs off 12 balls, while Will Jacks contributed 16 runs before getting out. After that, Suryakumar Yadav and Ryan Rickelton ensured there were no further hiccups, guiding Mumbai to victory. Rickelton remained unbeaten with 62 runs, while Suryakumar Yadav played a blistering knock of 27 runs off just 9 balls.

Mumbai’s Dominance Over KKR Continues

With this win, Mumbai Indians registered their 24th victory over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL history. At Wankhede Stadium, this was Mumbai’s 10th win against KKR. They sealed the match with 43 balls to spare, significantly improving their net run rate.

Shake-Up in the Points Table

Mumbai Indians climbed to the sixth spot in the points table following this win, securing two points with a net run rate of +0.309. Meanwhile, KKR dropped to the 10th position with a poor net run rate of -1.428.

The Road Ahead in IPL 2025

This emphatic win has boosted Mumbai Indians’ confidence, and they will look to maintain this form in their upcoming matches. On the other hand, Kolkata Knight Riders need to strengthen their batting lineup to bounce back in the tournament.

Mumbai Indians’ triumph has given their fans another reason to celebrate and reinforced their status as strong contenders for the IPL 2025 title.