Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 continues to deliver drama both on and off the field. During the Monday encounter between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders, Hardik Pandya made headlines with a cheeky send-off directed at young batter Angkrish Raghuvanshi.
The incident occurred during the 7th over of KKR’s innings, when Raghuvanshi attempted to pull a delivery from Hardik Pandya but ended up giving an easy catch to Naman Dhir at deep mid-wicket. Clearly pleased with the dismissal, Pandya made a dismissive ‘goodbye’ gesture towards Raghuvanshi, sparking conversations across social media.
Interestingly, this act came just days after the infamous cold stare-off between Pandya and Gujarat Titans cricketer R Sai Kishore. Pandya’s fiery on-field persona continues to be a talking point as the IPL 2025 season unfolds
Mumbai Indians Secure First Win of IPL 2025
Amidst all the drama, Mumbai Indians clinched their first win of the season, defeating Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets. The standout performer of the match was medium pacer Ashwani Kumar, who impressed on his IPL debut.
Ashwani Kumar’s Match-Winning Performance:
- Figures: 4-24
- Wickets Taken: Ajinkya Rahane, Rinkhu Singh, Manish Pandey, Andre Russell
- Unique Preparation: Kumar revealed he played the game on an empty stomach, having only a banana for lunch.
- Age: 23
Reflecting on his performance, Kumar said:
“I didn’t have anything for lunch, I just had a banana. There was a little pressure. I wasn’t feeling hungry. But still, I played well, so it’s good.”
Mumbai Indians’ captain Hardik Pandya credited the extensive Mumbai scouting network for discovering Kumar’s talent.
“We thought Ashwani can come in on this pitch and bowl the way he bowled. It is all the scouts – they picked him. They have gone to all the places and picked these young kids. We played a practice game, he had that zip, that late swing, something off the wicket, a different action and he was a leftie.” – Hardik Pandya
Ryan Rickelton’s Powerful Chase
Chasing a modest total of 116, South African wicketkeeper-batsman Ryan Rickelton spearheaded Mumbai Indians’ batting with a blazing innings.
Ryan Rickelton’s Performance:
- Score: 62 off 41 balls
- Boundaries: Five sixes
- Impact: Steered Mumbai to victory with more than seven overs to spare
Mumbai Indians’ successful chase showcased their batting depth and resilience, marking a positive start to their IPL 2025 campaign.
Key Takeaways
Rickelton’s Chase Mastery: The South African batter’s composed yet aggressive innings ensured a comfortable win for Mumbai Indians
Hardik Pandya’s On-Field Aggression: His cheeky send-off to Angkrish Raghuvanshi has become a talking point, especially after his recent incident with Sai Kishore.
Ashwani Kumar’s Debut Heroics: The young pacer made a stunning debut, proving to be a valuable asset for Mumbai Indians.
Mumbai’s Scouting System: Pandya credited the franchise’s talent identification system for finding promising players like Ashwani Kumar.
