Mumbai Indians (MI) showcased a commanding bowling performance to restrict Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to a paltry 116 runs in 16.2 overs in the 12th match of IPL 2025 at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai. Captain Hardik Pandya’s decision to bowl first after winning the toss proved to be spot on, as MI’s bowlers ran riot, dismantling KKR’s batting lineup with precision.
Boult and Ashwani Shine as KKR Struggle
KKR had a nightmarish start, losing Sunil Narine for a duck in the very first over to Trent Boult. Quinton de Kock followed soon after, scoring just 1 before falling to Deepak Chahar. Captain Ajinkya Rahane tried to steady the innings but managed only 11 runs before being dismissed by Ashwani Kumar. With wickets tumbling at regular intervals, KKR found themselves in deep trouble at 41/4 within six overs.
Ashwani Kumar’s Dream Spell Wrecks KKR
Young pacer Ashwani Kumar was the star of the show, picking up 4 wickets for just 24 runs in his three-over spell. He removed Ajinkya Rahane, Rinku Singh (17), Manish Pandey (19), and the dangerous Andre Russell (5), breaking KKR’s backbone and ensuring they never recovered.
Middle-Order Collapse and Late Resistance
Angkrish Raghuvanshi (26 off 16) showed some resistance, but his dismissal in the 7th over made things worse for KKR. Ramandeep Singh (22 off 12) tried to push the total past 100 with a few aggressive strokes, but he too fell in the 16th over. Harshit Rana (4) and Spencer Johnson (1*) could only manage a few runs as KKR were bundled out for 116.
MI’s Clinical Bowling Attack
Trent Boult (2/15 in 4 overs) provided the early breakthroughs, while Deepak Chahar (2/19) maintained the pressure. Ashwani Kumar (4/24) was the standout performer, while Hardik Pandya (1/10), Vignesh Puthur (1/21), and Mitchell Santner (1/17) all chipped in to ensure a collective bowling effort.
Can MI Chase This Down Comfortably?
With a modest target of 117, Mumbai Indians are in a commanding position. With power hitters like Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and captain Hardik Pandya in the lineup, MI will be confident of chasing this total with ease. KKR, on the other hand, will need a miraculous bowling effort to defend this low score.
