Mon Mar 31 14:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Mumbai Indians Rout Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL Opener
**Mumbai, India** – The Mumbai Indians demolished defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders in their IPL home opener, bowling them out for a paltry 116 runs in just 16.2 overs. The victory was fueled by a stunning debut performance from Ashwani Kumar, who claimed four wickets, and a two-wicket haul by Deepak Chahar.
Kumar, in his first-ever IPL match, expressed his excitement, stating that his villagers had eagerly awaited his debut. He revealed that he felt initial pressure but the team’s supportive atmosphere helped him relax. He credited his success to Hardik Pandya’s advice to bowl short and to the match situation itself. Among his victims were key KKR batsmen Ajinkya Rahane (dismissed for a duck in the very first ball of the fourth over), Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey, and Andre Russell.
The win marks a strong start for the Mumbai Indians in the current IPL season.
First Piper 