Mumbai Indians (MI) captain Hardik Pandya was thrilled after his team’s dominant 8-wicket win against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Wankhede Stadium. Speaking at the post-match presentation, Pandya credited team depth, scouting efforts, and debutant Ashwani Kumar’s brilliance for MI’s success.
🗣️ Hardik Pandya on the Win:
🟢 “Very satisfying to win, especially at home. The way we did it, as a group, everyone chipped in – can’t be happier.”
🟢 On team selection & Ashwani Kumar’s debut:
✅ “It’s always a challenge picking one guy here and there. With our team, it’s pretty sorted with the players we are backing.”
✅ “This wicket offered a bit more, and we thought Ashwani could come in and bowl the way he bowled.”
✅ “The MI scouts deserve credit. They’ve traveled everywhere, finding young talent like Ashwani.”
🟢 On Ashwani’s performance:
✅ “In our practice games, we saw he had zip, late swing, a different action, and being a leftie helped.”
✅ “The way he dismissed Russell was a crucial moment. Also, the way he jumped to take that catch of Quinton de Kock was fantastic. Great to see a fast bowler with such athleticism!”
🏏 MI vs KKR: Match Recap
🔥 Mumbai Indians beat KKR by 8 wickets
🏏 KKR: 116 all out (16.5 overs)
👑 Ashwani Kumar (4/24) stars on debut
🏏 MI: 121/2 (12.5 overs)
💥 Ryan Rickelton (62), Suryakumar Yadav (27) finish in style**
MI’s Key Takeaways from the Match:
✅ Ashwani Kumar’s dream debut (4/24) 🤩
✅ Ryan Rickelton’s explosive fifty (62 off 41)* 🔥
✅ Suryakumar Yadav’s quickfire 27 off 9* 🚀
✅ Sharp team selection & strategy paying off 👏