Nervous but focused, 23-year-old Ashwani Kumar stunned everyone with a 4-wicket haul on debut for Mumbai Indians, becoming the first Indian to do so in IPL history.
April 1, 2025: Mumbai – From eating just a banana out of nerves to dismantling Kolkata Knight Riders’ batting order, 23-year-old Ashwani Kumar had the kind of IPL debut dreams are made of. The young left-arm pacer from Jhanjeri, near Chandigarh, became the first Indian to take four wickets on IPL debut, leading Mumbai Indians to a thumping win over KKR.
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Match-Winning Spell
Ashwani’s figures:
- 3 overs | 24 runs | 4 wickets
- Wickets: Ajinkya Rahane (first ball), Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey (impact sub), Andre Russell
He entered the match with just four senior T20s, two Ranji Trophy games, and four List A matches under his belt.
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“I felt very good. There was pressure, but the team environment helped me settle down,” Ashwani said during the mid-innings break.
Didn’t Eat Lunch, Just a Banana
Revealing his pre-match state of mind, he shared:
“I didn’t have lunch today. I only ate a banana. There was some pressure, so I didn’t feel hungry. But the team told me to enjoy myself and back my skills.”
“Hardik bhai told me to bowl into the wicket, and the plan worked. Everyone in my village is watching, and I’m so happy I got my opportunity today,” he added.
Scouted from Local Tournaments
Ashwani rose through the ranks after impressing in the Sher-E-Punjab T20 Trophy, where he developed a reputation for bowling under pressure in the death overs with a mean bouncer and wide yorkers.
The Beginning of a Bright Future?
With raw pace, confidence, and a calm head on debut, Ashwani Kumar could well be MI’s breakout star of the season—a product of the franchise’s relentless domestic scouting machine.
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