Mumbai Indians (MI) finally opened their account in IPL 2025 with a dominant eight-wicket victory over Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday. The win was a much-needed boost for the five-time champions, and it was particularly special for South African batter Ryan Rickelton, who played a match-winning knock of 62* off 41 balls. After struggling in his first two outings, Rickelton found his rhythm at the perfect time, guiding MI to a comfortable chase.
The young left-hander had entered the game under pressure, having managed just 13 and 6 in his previous innings. However, he displayed composure and resilience against KKR’s pace attack, ensuring MI had a solid start in their pursuit of the modest 117-run target. Speaking after the match, Rickelton admitted that the initial struggles had weighed on him but expressed relief at getting a score under his belt.
“The pressure factor internally is big, but externally, it’s even bigger. It wasn’t as fluent as I would have liked, but I’ll take it. The first two games were tough, with tricky wickets, so getting out there in Mumbai and handling Spencer [Johnson] early on was a tough battle. Once I got through that, it was a relief. More than anything, it’s just great to get two points for the team,” Ryan Rickelton said.
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He also highlighted the challenge of opening the innings alongside Rohit Sharma, acknowledging the expectations that come with being a top-order batter for MI. Rickelton emphasized that his main goal was to contribute to the team’s success while adjusting to the conditions.
Ryan Rickelton is an exact replica of Quinton De Kock.
Are we really back to 2020 Year?#MIvsKKR
— Mumbai Indians FC (@MIPaltanFamily) March 31, 2025
“Opening for Mumbai Indians with Rohit Sharma brings its own pressure, both internally and externally. I just wanted to contribute and get a score on the board. To be honest, I was just trying not to chop one onto my stumps early on! The target wasn’t too high, so I knew I had a bit of time to settle in. A couple of boundaries helped me get going, and from there, I could play my game. My focus was on facing 18-20 balls and making an impact, and thankfully, I managed to get us through,” he added.
Ryan Rickelton’s knock was well-paced, and his partnership with Rohit Sharma ensured MI had a steady platform. While the South African took his time initially, he accelerated once he got set, showing glimpses of the form that made him a highly-rated signing for MI.
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The match also saw a spectacular IPL debut for Ashwani Kumar, who ripped through KKR’s middle order with figures of 4/24. The young pacer’s performance was instrumental in restricting KKR to just 116, setting up MI’s chase perfectly.
With their first win of the season secured, MI will be looking to build on this momentum as they prepare to face Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium on April 4. Rickelton’s return to form and Ashwani Kumar’s breakthrough spell could be the spark MI needs to turn their season around.
