By IPL Fan 
Hey cricket fans! The IPL 2025 season is in full swing, and Match 12 on March 31, 2025, at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai was an absolute cracker! Mumbai Indians (MI) took on Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a match that turned out to be a one-sided affair, with MI securing a commanding 8-wicket win. If you missed the action, don’t worry—I’ve got you covered with a detailed breakdown of the game, from batting and bowling highlights to the turning point, scorecards, and more. Let’s dive into this MI vs KKR showdown!
The 12th match of IPL 2025 saw MI finally get their campaign on track after a shaky start to the season. KKR, batting first after MI won the toss, crumbled to a measly 116 all out in just 13 overs, thanks to some fiery bowling from MI’s pacers. Trent Boult (3/19) and Deepak Chahar (2/22) were the stars with the ball, while Andre Russell’s 29 off 16 was KKR’s only real fight. In response, MI chased down the target with ease, reaching 121/2 in 12.5 overs, led by Ryan Rickelton’s unbeaten 62 off 37. It was a night to forget for KKR, but for MI fans, this was a much-needed boost!
Man of the Match: Ryan Rickelton, for his match-defining 62* off 37 (6 fours, 2 sixes), steering MI to a comfortable chase.
KKR’s decision to bat first backfired spectacularly. The Wankhede pitch offered early swing, and MI’s bowlers made the most of it. Quinton de Kock (4 off 6) was dismissed in the first over by Boult, edging a swinging delivery to the keeper. Ajinkya Rahane (8 off 5) followed soon after, nicking one to slip, leaving KKR at 15/2 in 3 overs. Rinku Singh (10 off 8) and Venkatesh Iyer (14 off 12) tried to steady the ship, but Deepak Chahar and Mujeeb Ur Rahman struck in quick succession, reducing KKR to 45/4 in 7 overs.
Andre Russell provided a glimmer of hope with a quickfire 29 off 16 (2 fours, 2 sixes), including a 16-run over off Mujeeb, but his dismissal by Boult in the 11th over triggered a collapse. Sunil Narine (12 off 9) and the lower order couldn’t hold up, and KKR were bowled out for 116 in 13 overs—their lowest total this season. It was a batting performance that left fans stunned, as Rahane later admitted, “We misread the pitch and lost too many early wickets.”
MI’s bowling attack was relentless from the get-go. Trent Boult was the standout, finishing with 3/19 in 3 overs, using swing to dismantle KKR’s top order. Deepak Chahar complemented him perfectly, taking 2/22, while Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s 2/15 in 2 overs broke KKR’s middle order. Mitchell Santner (1/18) and Satyanarayana Raju (1/19) chipped in, ensuring KKR had no breathing room. Hardik Pandya’s decision to bowl first paid off, as he noted, “Boult and Chahar set the tone early, and the fielding was sharp.”
Chasing 117, MI knew they had the upper hand, especially with dew making the pitch easier to bat on. Rohit Sharma (22 off 15, 3 fours) and Ryan Rickelton started strongly, putting on 45 for the first wicket in 5 overs. Rohit looked in good touch but fell to Anrich Nortje (1/28), caught at mid-off. Suryakumar Yadav (18 off 14, 1 four, 1 six) kept the momentum going, adding 33 with Rickelton, before Varun Chakaravarthy (1/25) dismissed him in the 9th over.
But Rickelton was in a different zone altogether. His unbeaten 62 off 37 (6 fours, 2 sixes) was a blend of elegance and aggression, ensuring MI never lost control. Tilak Varma (14* off 10) played a supporting role, and MI cruised to 121/2 in 12.5 overs, winning with 43 balls to spare. Rickelton later shared, “The pitch eased out after the initial swing, and I just focused on timing the ball.”
KKR’s bowlers struggled to make an impact. Anrich Nortje (1/28) and Varun Chakaravarthy (1/25) picked up a wicket each, but the rest of the attack was ineffective. Harshit Rana (0/20) and Sunil Narine (0/15) couldn’t find their rhythm, while Andre Russell’s 0.5 overs went for 14 runs. The dew factor didn’t help, but KKR’s lack of early breakthroughs allowed MI to dominate the chase.
The turning point came early in KKR’s innings when Trent Boult dismissed Quinton de Kock and Ajinkya Rahane in the first 3 overs, leaving KKR at 15/2. This set the tone for MI’s bowling dominance, as KKR never recovered from the early blows. Andre Russell’s brief fight kept them alive, but his dismissal in the 11th over by Boult sealed KKR’s fate, ensuring they couldn’t post a competitive total.
- Strengths: MI’s bowling attack, led by Boult and Chahar, was clinical, exploiting the early conditions perfectly. Their fielding was sharp, saving crucial runs, and Rickelton’s composed batting ensured a smooth chase. The decision to bowl first, considering the dew, was spot-on.
- Weaknesses: MI’s middle order wasn’t tested, but their reliance on the top order could be a concern if early wickets fall in future games. Hardik Pandya’s 0/20 in 2 overs was a rare off-day with the ball.
- Strengths: Andre Russell’s 29 off 16 showed his ability to counterattack, and Varun Chakaravarthy’s 1/25 in 3 overs was a positive in an otherwise lackluster bowling effort.
- Weaknesses: KKR’s top order failed miserably against swing, exposing their vulnerability to quality pace bowling. Their inability to adapt to the pitch conditions and lack of partnerships were glaring issues. The bowling unit also lacked penetration, failing to challenge MI’s batsmen.
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quinton de Kock (wk) | 4 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 66.67 | b Trent Boult |
| Ajinkya Rahane (c) | 8 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 160.00 | c Rickelton b Trent Boult |
| Rinku Singh | 10 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 125.00 | c Hardik Pandya b Deepak Chahar |
| Venkatesh Iyer | 14 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 116.67 | lbw b Mujeeb Ur Rahman |
| Andre Russell | 29 | 16 | 2 | 2 | 181.25 | c Tilak Varma b Trent Boult |
| Sunil Narine | 12 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 133.33 | c Suryakumar Yadav b Mujeeb Ur Rahman |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | 5 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 71.43 | c Rohit Sharma b Deepak Chahar |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 120.00 | b Mitchell Santner |
| Anrich Nortje | 9 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 150.00 | c Naman Dhir b Satyanarayana Raju |
| Harshit Rana | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 75.00 | run out (Hardik Pandya) |
| Mayank Markande | 2* | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 | Not Out |
| Extras | 14 | (lb 3, w 11) | ||||
| Total | 116/10 | (13 Overs, RR: 8.92) |
Fall of Wickets: 1-5 (Quinton de Kock, 1.2 ov), 2-15 (Ajinkya Rahane, 2.5 ov), 3-28 (Rinku Singh, 4.3 ov), 4-45 (Venkatesh Iyer, 6.6 ov), 5-85 (Andre Russell, 10.1 ov), 6-90 (Sunil Narine, 10.4 ov), 7-96 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 11.2 ov), 8-102 (Varun Chakaravarthy, 11.6 ov), 9-112 (Anrich Nortje, 12.4 ov), 10-116 (Harshit Rana, 12.6 ov)
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trent Boult | 3 | 0 | 19 | 3 | 6.33 |
| Deepak Chahar | 3 | 0 | 22 | 2 | 7.33 |
| Mujeeb Ur Rahman | 2 | 0 | 15 | 2 | 7.50 |
| Hardik Pandya | 2 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 10.00 |
| Mitchell Santner | 2 | 0 | 18 | 1 | 9.00 |
| Satyanarayana Raju | 1 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 19.00 |
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate | Dismissal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rohit Sharma | 22 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 146.67 | c Venkatesh Iyer b Anrich Nortje |
| Ryan Rickelton (wk) | 62* | 37 | 6 | 2 | 167.57 | Not Out |
| Suryakumar Yadav | 18 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 128.57 | c Rinku Singh b Varun Chakaravarthy |
| Tilak Varma | 14* | 10 | 1 | 0 | 140.00 | Not Out |
| Extras | 5 | (lb 1, w 4) | ||||
| Total | 121/2 | (12.5 Overs, RR: 9.48) |
Fall of Wickets: 1-45 (Rohit Sharma, 4.6 ov), 2-78 (Suryakumar Yadav, 8.6 ov)
| Bowler | Overs | Maidens | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anrich Nortje | 3 | 0 | 28 | 1 | 9.33 |
| Harshit Rana | 2 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 10.00 |
| Sunil Narine | 2 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 7.50 |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | 3 | 0 | 25 | 1 | 8.33 |
| Mayank Markande | 2 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 9.00 |
| Andre Russell | 0.5 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 16.80 |
Q: What was the key moment in the MI vs KKR match?
A: The early dismissals of Quinton de Kock and Ajinkya Rahane by Trent Boult in the first 3 overs set the tone for KKR’s collapse, giving MI complete control of the game.
Q: Who was the Man of the Match in the KKR vs MI game?
A: Ryan Rickelton was named Man of the Match for his unbeaten 62 off 37, guiding MI to an easy chase with 43 balls to spare.
Q: How did the pitch behave during the match?
A: The Wankhede pitch offered early swing for the pacers, which MI exploited, but it eased out in the second innings with dew setting in, making batting easier for MI.
Q: What went wrong for KKR in this match?
A: KKR’s top order failed to handle MI’s swing bowling, losing early wickets, and their lack of partnerships led to a low total. Their bowlers also couldn’t make early breakthroughs during MI’s chase.
Q: How does this result impact MI and KKR’s IPL 2025 campaign?
A: This win gives MI a much-needed boost after two losses, improving their net run rate and confidence. For KKR, it’s their second loss in three games, putting pressure on their batting unit to regroup quickly.
The MI vs KKR clash in IPL 2025 Match 12 was a testament to MI’s ability to bounce back when it matters. Their bowlers, led by Boult and Chahar, dismantled KKR’s batting, while Rickelton’s composed knock ensured a smooth chase. KKR, on the other hand, will need to address their top-order frailties and adapt better to challenging conditions. This 8-wicket win, with 43 balls to spare, is a massive confidence booster for MI as they look to build momentum, while KKR will be eager to regroup for their next challenge. What did you think of the match? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, and stay tuned to IPLFan.in for more updates from IPL 2025!
Published on March 31, 2025, at 11:09 PM IST
