Mumbai Indians Claim First IPL 2025 Win Over Kolkata Knight Riders

In their first win of the IPL 2025 season, the Mumbai Indians defeated the Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets, bolstered by a remarkable debut from medium pacer Ashwani Kumar, who took four wickets for just 24 runs. Kumar's performance was instrumental in restricting KKR to a mere 116 runs, taking key wickets including that of captain Ajinkya Rahane and power-hitter Andre Russell. Mumbai's run chase was led by Ryan Rickelton, who scored 62 off 41 balls, while Suryakumar Yadav contributed a quick 27 off 9 balls to secure the victory with 43 balls to spare. The team's improved bowling performance, with contributions from Deepak Chahar and Trent Boult, set the tone for the match. Captain Hardik Pandya credited the success to the scouting team that identified Kumar's potential. This win marks a promising turnaround for the Mumbai Indians after a challenging start to the season.