Inspired captaincy from Hardik Pandya and record-making effort from debutant Ashwani Kumar ensured Mumbai Indians (MI) humiliate Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) by 8 wickets with 43 balls to spare at Wankhede on Monday.

Ashwani Kumar motored into the record books breaking the KKR spine and returning with figures of 4 for 24. 

Hardik Pandya did nothing wrong today. He called it correctly at the toss and elected to bowl on a green top that promised to aid the bowlers first up.

He rotated his bowlers effectively making sure that KKR batters never had a moment of ease at the crease.

He made an inspired change to the side bringing in debutant Ashwani Kumar and Will Jacks.

Rohit Sharma came in as an impact sub for MI in place of Vignesh Puthur, thus further bolstering the batting. 

Needing 117 to win, MI began their innings in a bright manner reaching 46 in 5.2 overs before Rohit Sharma was dismissed for 13 by Andre Russell.

Sharma showed glimpses of his form only to continue his wretched run in IPL. Ryan Rickelton made amends for floundering earlier going great guns in the company of Will Jacks.

Ryan picked his spots hitting sixes and boundaries with consummate ease.

He reached his maiden 50 of the IPL off Sunil Narine. A proper half-tracker on leg stump from the Caribbean saw Rickelton hop back, and clobber it over deep mid-wicket to reach his landmark.

Meanwhile, Andre Russell continued to play spoilsport in what looked like a happy run chase when he sent back Will Jacks for 16 caught at short extra cover by Ajinkya Rahane.

But this was a minor glitch in the timeline as Ryan and Suryakumar made sure that the distance was breached without any further hiccups.

Especially Suryakumar, who looked to be in a tearing hurry reaching 27 off just nine deliveries with three boundaries and two sixes. 16 of those came off Andre Russell in the 13th over as MI reached 121 for two to close out the chase. Ryan remained unbeaten on 62 off just 41 balls. His innings studded with five sixes and four boundaries. 

Meanwhile batting first, KKR made a forgettable start to their innings. Sunil Narine was dismissed off the fourth ball of the innings with Trent Boult striking early.

This brought together skipper Ajinkya Rahane to the crease to join hands with Quinton de Kock. The second ball of the second over saw Deepak Chahar bowl one up that de Kock drove right down the throat of Ashwani in mid-off to make it 2/2 for KKR.

Rahane (11) sparkled for a while, before Ashwani took centre stage. Ashwani bowled one full and wide, angling across Rahane. Rahane’s eyes lit up as he sliced it towards deep backward point.

Tilak Verma almost made a mess of the catch as the ball bobbled out of his hand. But quick reflexes saw him taking it with one hand in a second attempt as Rahane had to depart after a promising start.

Deepak Chahar went for runs but continued to chip in. Venkatesh Iyer (3) saw one bowled short and moving towards him. He decided to play an upper cut only to deposit it in Rickelton’s gloves.

The first six overs saw KKR reaching 41 for four wickets. Angkrish Raghuvanshi was the only batsman who looked comfortable playing some delectable shots all around the ground reaching 26 from 16 balls before trying to pull Hardik Pandya in front of the square only to hand over a running catch to Naman Dhir.

This brought in impact sub Manish Pandey which also meant that Vaibhav Arora would have to sit out the match.

At the first strategic time out KKR was on 65 for 5 in 9 overs with Manish Pandey (12 off 9b) and Rinku Singh (11 off 9b) at the crease.   

Rinku Singh (17) returning in the 11th over did not help giving Ashwani his second wicket. Pandey departed in the same over, playing one that was short of good length from Ashwani onto his leg stumps to return to the pavilion for 19.

One over later Ashwani shook Andre Russell’s middle stumps to send KKR reeling at 88 for 8 and give the debutant figures of 3 overs 24 runs and 4 wickets. KKR’s nightmare at Wankhede finally got over when they were bowled out for 116 in 16.2 overs with Ramandeep’s 22-run cameo adding some respectability.