IPL 2025: Williamson Praises MI's Comprehensive Win Over KKR

Synopsis

On April 1, Kane Williamson commended the Mumbai Indians' commanding eight-wicket triumph over Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025. MI's performance was marked by Ashwani Kumar's four wickets and Ryan Rickelton's unbeaten half-century, leading them to their first victory of the season.

Key Takeaways

Kane Williamson praised MI's performance.
Ashwani Kumar took four wickets on debut.
Ryan Rickelton scored an unbeaten half-century.
MI dominated every phase of the match.
KKR needs to reassess their batting strategy.

Mumbai, April 1 (NationPress) New Zealand's seasoned player Kane Williamson praised the Mumbai Indians (MI) for their dominant eight-wicket victory against the defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), noting that the five-time champions were in control throughout the match, marking their first win of the IPL 2025 season.

Ryan Rickelton delivered a stellar performance with an unbeaten half-century, while rookie pacer Ashwani Kumar made a significant impact by taking four wickets, propelling MI to their inaugural points at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday evening.

Ashwani was the star of the show with remarkable figures of 4-24, the best by an Indian bowler on debut in the IPL, as KKR was dismissed for just 116 runs in 16.2 overs. Following this, Rickelton's unbeaten 62 off 41 balls enabled MI to easily chase down the target of 117 runs in a mere 12.5 overs.

"It was a well-rounded performance. Winning the toss, opting to bowl first, and executing their strategies flawlessly. The addition of an extra seamer, Ashwani, was exceptional. They consistently took wickets, which was the most gratifying aspect. It’s rare these days, given the impact player rule, to see a team prevent any significant partnerships. They maintained pressure throughout and were dominant during every phase of the match," Williamson remarked on JioHotstar.

Meanwhile, former Indian spinner Piyush Chawla evaluated KKR's performance, pointing out their shortcomings. He stated, "At times, respecting the conditions is necessary. It wasn’t an ideal batting pitch, particularly with the new ball. A cautious approach is required at the start, as the older ball allows for aggressive shots. That wasn’t seen today. We all know Trent Boult can swing the ball effectively, and he clearly had a strategy for Sunil Narine, which worked perfectly. Venkatesh Iyer also faced difficulties, often trying extravagant shots."

"As previously mentioned, the burden of his hefty price tag is ever-present. Additionally, the manner in which Rinku got out was unwarranted. He possesses a sound mind, but that shot was unnecessary. There were still 8-10 overs remaining, and the team required stability. Even with an impact player and batting strength down to number nine, they couldn’t last the entire 20 overs. This encapsulates the entire situation," he added.

Currently, KKR finds itself at the bottom of the table and will look to rebound when they face Sunrisers Hyderabad on Thursday at Eden Gardens. Meanwhile, fifth-placed MI is set to take on the Lucknow Super Giants the following day at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow.