In the high-octane world of the IPL, the Powerplay overs often set the stage for fireworks. These six overs, where only two fielders are allowed outside the 30-yard circle, are usually a batsman’s paradise. But for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), it turned into a nightmare as they crumbled to a dismal 41/4, handing the Mumbai Indians (MI) a decisive advantage.
This season, Powerplay scores have soared as high as 94 runs, with teams even breaching the 100-run mark on four occasions in IPL history. However, KKR’s performance was a far cry from these lofty standards, marking their worst Powerplay display of IPL 2025 and the second-worst overall, trailing only CSK’s 30/3 against RCB earlier in the season.
The carnage began with Trent Boult’s lethal yorker that dismantled Sunil Narine’s stumps in just two deliveries. Deepak Chahar followed suit, luring Quinton de Kock into a false shot that landed in the hands of debutant Ashwani Kumar. Ashwani’s dream start continued as he dismissed Ajinkya Rahane with his very first ball, thanks to a sharp catch by Tilak Varma.
Venkatesh Iyer, retained by KKR for a staggering Rs 23.75 crore, failed to deliver yet again, falling victim to a well-directed bouncer from Chahar. At 41/4, KKR’s hopes were in tatters, and MI had firmly seized control of the match.
Ashwani Kumar emerged as the star of the night, claiming three more wickets to dismantle KKR’s middle order and earning the Player of the Match award. MI’s chase of 117 was a walk in the park, with Ryan Rickleton stealing the show with a scintillating 62* off just 41 balls, including five sixes and four boundaries.
This victory propelled MI to the 6th spot on the leaderboard, with a positive Net Run Rate to boot. After a shaky start to the season, the five-time champions have finally found their rhythm.
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