But behind the thunderous applause at Wankhede lies a tale of pure grit.
April 1, 2025: Mumbai Indians’ Ashwani Kumar just delivered one of the most memorable debuts in IPL history — taking 4 wickets for 24 runs against Kolkata Knight Riders and bagging Player of the Match.
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👉 Born in Jhanjheri, Punjab, Ashwani would borrow ₹30 from his father to catch a shared auto to the PCA Stadium. Often, he cycled. Other days, he hitchhiked.
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👉 Rejected by CSK, KKR, and RR during trials, he never gave up. His idols? Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell Starc.
👉 His family and friends once pooled money to buy him cricket balls. And the first thing he did after MI picked him for ₹30 lakh? He donated kits and balls to village academies so others could dream too.
Also Read: Rickelton, Ashwani Shine as MI Crush KKR by 8 Wickets to Seal First Win of IPL 2025
🏏 “Rain or shine, he trained relentlessly. He would leave at 5 AM, come back at 10 PM. Today, each wicket reminded me of those days,” his father told Indian Express.
His brother added: “He always said he wanted to wear a jersey with his own name. Now kids will wear jerseys with his name.”
And his mother? Just thrilled for her son, and ready with his post-match treat — besan ka chilla and aloo paratha. 🫶
📣 This isn’t just a cricket story. It’s a story of resilience, faith, and dreams sewn with every stitch of sweat.
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