On March 31, the Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians finally got the taste of winning in their 2025 IPL campaign, as they defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by 8 wickets. Ryle Rickelton led the chase of a pocket-friendly 117 runs in Wankhade Stadium. However, the 24-year-old debutant Ashwani Kumar, hailing from Punjab, stole the show, bagging four crucial wickets. The names that got zip-locked in his bag are: Ajinkya Rahane, Manish Pandey, Rinku Singh, and Andre Russell. Kolkata Knight Riders faltered against swing! Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) had a disappointing outing with the bat as they struggled to build any momentum against the disciplined bowling attack of Mumbai Indians. From the very beginning, KKR kept losing wickets at regular intervals, failing to establish any meaningful partnerships. Quinton de Kock, expected to give a solid start, fell early to Deepak Chahar after scoring just one run. Sunil Narine followed soon after, dismissed by Trent Boult for a two-ball duck. Captain Ajinkya Rahane tried to counterattack with a six and a four in his brief stay, but Ashwani Kumar's impressive debut performance cut his innings short. Angkrish Raghuvanshi showed some promise with a quickfire 26 off 16 balls, but his efforts couldn’t be converted into a substantial score. Venkatesh Iyer and Rinku Singh also failed to make an impact, as Mumbai's bowlers maintained relentless pressure. The highlight of the bowling attack was the young debutant Ashwani Kumar, who stole the show with his 4-wicket haul, including the crucial scalps of Andre Russell and Rahane. However, it was Vignesh Puthur who turned heads, showcasing his raw talent by dismissing a key batter and keeping things tight despite giving away a few boundaries. Mumbai Indians bowled out KKR for a modest total of 116 in just 16.3 overs. Read also: Fans praise Naman Dhir's stunning catch to dismiss Harshit Rana. Easy chase for Mumbai Indians In response, Mumbai Indians made light work of the chase. Rohit Sharma played a quick cameo, scoring 13 runs off 12 balls, including a six, before being dismissed by Russell. Ryan Rickelton anchored the innings with an unbeaten 62 off 41 balls, holding his nerves and keeping the chase on track. Will Jacks chipped in with 16 off 17 balls, and Suryakumar Yadav finished the game in style, smashing a six to seal the victory. His quickfire 27 off 9 balls, including 3 fours and 2 sixes, ensured an easy win for Mumbai Indians, who reached 121/2 in just 12.5 overs. KKR’s bowling unit had little to celebrate, apart from Russell's 2-wicket burst. Vignesh Puthur showed promise with his tight spell, but the lack of support from the other bowlers proved costly. However, with losing the game, fans have already started making Gautam Gambhir trending on X-—a familiar reaction that surfaces every time KKR falters. Adding to the intrigue, KKR's former captain, Shreyas Iyer, now playing for Punjab Kings, will be in action tomorrow against Lucknow Super Giants, looking to maintain his new team's winning momentum. Shreyas played a blistering knock of 97 not out, which was the foundation of Punjab's win. With KKR's defeat today, another repeat of Iyer's brilliance might add some salt to today's frustration!