IPL Live Cricket Score On March 31, 2025, the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai buzzed with anticipation as the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) faced off against the five-time IPL winners Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 12th match of the TATA IPL 2025. With MI still searching for their first win of the season after two consecutive losses and KKR coming off a mixed start, this clash promised drama, skill, and a potential turning point for both teams. Under the floodlights, with a vociferous crowd cheering, the match delivered a spectacle that will be remembered as one of the early highlights of the season.
MI skipper Hardik Pandya won the toss and elected to bowl first, banking on the dew factor and his team’s potent bowling attack to restrict KKR on a batting-friendly Wankhede pitch. What unfolded was a rollercoaster of a game, marked by sensational bowling, dramatic collapses, and a tense chase that kept fans on the edge of their seats. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the match highlights.
First Innings: KKR’s Batting Collapse
Powerplay Woes: MI Seamers Strike Early
KKR’s innings got off to a disastrous start as MI’s new-ball bowlers Trent Boult and Deepak Chahar exploited the early movement on offer. Sunil Narine, returning to the XI after missing a game due to illness, faced a fiery Boult in the first over. The veteran Kiwi pacer delivered a perfect outswinger that caught Narine’s edge, sending him back for a two-ball duck, caught by Ryan Rickelton behind the stumps. The Wankhede erupted as MI drew first blood.
In the very next over, Deepak Chahar joined the party, dismissing Quinton de Kock for just 1. The South African wicketkeeper-batter, who had scored a match-winning 97* in KKR’s previous outing, misjudged a full-length delivery that swung late, crashing into his stumps. At 6/2 after two overs, KKR were reeling, and the MI faithful sensed an opportunity.
Captain Ajinkya Rahane, playing at his home ground, and young Angkrish Raghuvanshi attempted to stabilize the innings. However, debutant left-arm seamer Ashwani Kumar, replacing S Raju in the XI, turned the screws further in the fifth over. Rahane (11 off 7) slashed at a rising delivery outside off, only to see Tilak Varma juggle and hold onto a sharp catch at backward point. Moments later, Venkatesh Iyer (3 off 9) edged a probing length ball from Chahar to Rickelton, leaving KKR tottering at 41/4 at the end of the powerplay. Kumar’s dream debut had begun with a bang.
Middle Overs: Ashwani Kumar’s Heroics
Debut straight out of a storybook 📖
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 31, 2025
The perfect first chapter for Ashwani Kumar 👌👌
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The middle overs saw KKR’s batting lineup crumble under pressure from MI’s disciplined bowling attack. Rinku Singh, known for his finishing prowess, and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (26 off 16) showed brief resistance with a flurry of boundaries, including a lofted cover drive from Raghuvanshi off Mitchell Santner that drew applause. However, their partnership was short-lived. Raghuvanshi fell to Vignesh Puthur’s left-arm spin in the seventh over, miscuing a lofted shot to Naman Dhir at deep midwicket.
With KKR at 57/5, Andre Russell walked in, raising hopes of a counterattack. The Caribbean all-rounder smashed a six off Santner over long-on, but his stay was cut short by Ashwani Kumar’s brilliance. In the 10th over, Kumar bowled a 140 kph thunderbolt that beat Russell’s wild swing, crashing into the stumps. Russell departed for 8, and Kumar had his second wicket, leaving KKR at 73/6.
Rinku Singh (19 off 14) followed soon after, trapped LBW by Kumar’s inswinging yorker in the 12th over. The debutant’s figures read an astonishing 3/15 at that point, and he wasn’t done yet. Ramandeep Singh (22 off 12) provided some late resistance with a couple of boundaries and a six, but Kumar returned in the 16th over to clean him up with another pinpoint yorker, finishing with a sensational 4/24—becoming the first Indian to take four wickets on IPL debut.
KKR All Out for 116
The tail offered little fight. Spencer Johnson scratched around for an unbeaten 1, while Harshit Rana (4) and Varun Chakravarthy (0) fell quickly to Santner (1/17) and Boult (2/20), respectively. KKR were bowled out for a paltry 116 in 16.2 overs—the lowest total of IPL 2025 thus far. Ashwani Kumar’s heroics, supported by Boult and Chahar, had dismantled the defending champions, setting MI a seemingly straightforward target. However, as cricket often proves, no chase is ever easy in the IPL.
Second Innings: MI’s Chase
Steady Start: Rohit and Rickelton Lay the Foundation
MI’s chase began with Rohit Sharma, introduced as an Impact Player, and Ryan Rickelton opening the batting. After two chastening defeats, MI were desperate for a solid start, and the duo delivered a cautious yet effective powerplay. Facing KKR’s potent spin duo of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy, they rotated the strike well, picking off singles and dispatching the occasional loose ball.
Rohit, under scrutiny after a string of low scores, looked determined to anchor the innings. He lofted Chakravarthy for a six over long-off in the fourth over, signaling intent. Rickelton complemented him with a crisp cover drive off Spencer Johnson. By the end of the powerplay, MI were 42/0, needing just 75 more runs from 14 overs—a position of dominance.
Twist in the Tale: Narine and Chakravarthy Strike Back
Just when MI seemed to be cruising, KKR’s spinners turned the game on its head. In the seventh over, Narine bowled a quicker one that skidded through, trapping Rohit (13 off 18) LBW. The former MI captain’s lean patch continued, and the Wankhede crowd fell silent. Two balls later, Rickelton (19 off 22) miscued a lofted shot off Chakravarthy to Rinku Singh at long-on, reducing MI to 47/2.
Suryakumar Yadav, MI’s batting linchpin, joined Tilak Varma at the crease. The duo steadied the ship with a 32-run partnership, Suryakumar unleashing his trademark scoop shot off Harshit Rana for a boundary. However, Chakravarthy struck again in the 11th over, deceiving Suryakumar (21 off 16) with a flighted delivery that was stumped smartly by de Kock. At 79/3, with 38 runs still needed, KKR sensed an opening.
Hardik’s Finishing Act
Hardik Pandya, under pressure as captain after a rocky start to the season, walked in with a point to prove. Alongside Tilak Varma (17 off 14), he kept the scoreboard ticking, though Varma fell to Andre Russell in the 14th over, caught at deep square leg off a short ball. MI were 92/4, and the tension was palpable.
With 25 runs required off the last four overs, Hardik took charge. He smashed Russell for a six over midwicket in the 16th over and followed it with a boundary through extra cover off Johnson in the 17th. Naman Dhir (8* off 5) played a supporting role, and with 5 runs needed off the final two overs, Hardik sealed the deal with a lofted cover drive off Chakravarthy for four, finishing unbeaten on 28 off 19. MI chased down 117 in 18.1 overs, winning by 6 wickets—their first victory of IPL 2025.
Key Performances
Player of the Match: Ashwani Kumar (MI)
Ashwani Kumar’s debut performance was the defining moment of the match. The 23-year-old left-armer from Punjab swung the ball at pace, finishing with figures of 4/24 in 4 overs. His dismissals of Rahane, Rinku, Russell, and Ramandeep showcased his ability to mix pace with precision, earning him the Player of the Match award and instant fame.
Bowling Standouts
- Trent Boult (MI): 2/20 in 3.2 overs – Set the tone with Narine’s early wicket.
- Deepak Chahar (MI): 2/25 in 3 overs – Removed de Kock and Iyer to pile pressure on KKR.
- Varun Chakravarthy (KKR): 2/22 in 4 overs – Fought valiantly to keep KKR in the game.
Batting Contributions
- Hardik Pandya (MI): 28* off 19 – A captain’s knock to steer MI home.
- Angkrish Raghuvanshi (KKR): 26 off 16 – A brief spark in an otherwise dismal innings.
Tactical Insights
MI’s decision to bowl first paid dividends, with their seamers exploiting the early conditions and the spinners maintaining control. Hardik’s choice to bring in Ashwani Kumar proved a masterstroke, while KKR’s aggressive approach backfired on a pitch that demanded patience. KKR’s substitution of Raghuvanshi for Manish Pandey as an Impact Player failed to stem the collapse, leaving them short of bowling options in the second innings.
Post-Match Reactions
Hardik Pandya beamed with relief in the post-match presentation: “Ashwani was outstanding. We needed this win badly, and the boys showed character. The chase got tight, but we held our nerve.” KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane, visibly disappointed, admitted, “We didn’t adapt well. Credit to MI’s bowlers, especially Ashwani. We’ll bounce back.”
Conclusion
A different 'Monday Blues' for @mipaltan 💙#MI register a convincing 8⃣-wicket victory over #KKR and are up and away in #TATAIPL 👌💙
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 31, 2025
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The 12th match of TATA IPL 2025 was a tale of two halves—KKR’s batting implosion and MI’s gritty chase. Ashwani Kumar emerged as the hero, announcing his arrival on the IPL stage with a spell for the ages. For MI, the win marked a much-needed resurgence, while KKR were left to regroup after a humbling defeat. As the tournament progresses, this match will be remembered as a classic David vs. Goliath encounter, with the debutant stealing the show under the Wankhede lights.
