New Delhi: The Indian Premier League (IPL) has served as a platform for new cricketing talent over the years. The latest addition to the list of most successful debutants at the IPL is Ashwani Kumar of Mumbai Indians.
The 23-year-old left-arm pacer claimed four wickets and conceded 24 runs to dismantle the Kolkata Knight Riders’ batting order in his first IPL match at the Wankhede Stadium Monday.
His performance was instrumental in restricting KKR to 116 in 16.2 overs, helping Mumbai Indians secure an eight-wicket win.
Ashwani, who hails from Jhanjeri, near Chandigarh, became the first Indian fast bowler in IPL history to claim four wickets on debut.
Skills 🤝 Confidence 🤝 Impact
A 𝟒-𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐫 performance on debut for Ashwani Kumar bags him the Player of the Match award 🏆
Scorecard ▶ https://t.co/iEwchzEpDk#TATAIPL | #MIvKKR | @mipaltan pic.twitter.com/Gosrgs3OuF
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 31, 2025
Ashwani is now among the top bowlers to make an impact on their maiden IPL appearance, alongside the likes of Alzarri Joseph (6/12) and Andrew Tye (5/17).
He expertly utilised the pitch, hitting the deck hard to deliver effective bouncers that troubled the KKR batsmen, and also struck with the new ball.
His list of dismissals in the match included big names, like Ajinkya Rahane—the first wicket of his IPL career. Rahane’s wicket proved to be a turning point, as KKR struggled to settle into the game thereafter. Just when the Knight Riders seemed to be recovering, Ashwani struck again, taking out Rinku Singh, followed by Manish Pandey, who was clean-bowled by a precise inswinger.
Eventually, Ashwani clean-bowled Andre Russell. That wicket ensured KKR couldn’t play out their full 20 overs.
Another rare feat was achieved by Ashwani, who took a wicket on the very first ball of his IPL career for Mumbai Indians, joining Ali Murtaza (2010), Alzarri Joseph (2019), and Dewald Brevis (2022).
Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya revealed that Ashwani’s impressive performance in a practice game had sealed his spot in the playing XI. “We played a practice game and he had that zip, he had that little late swing, something off the wicket and had a different action, and plus, he was a lefty,” he said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Before making his IPL debut, Ashwani had limited experience in senior cricket, having played just four T20 matches, two Ranji Trophy games, and four List A matches for Punjab.
His IPL journey began with a modest Rs 30 lakh deal with Mumbai Indians at the 2025 mega auction. His performance in the 2023 Sher-E-Punjab Trophy tournament, where he picked up eight wickets to help BLV Blasters win the title, had caught the attention of the team’s scouts.
Ashwani is the first fast bowler with a four-wicket haul in an IPL debut match, sharing the feat with spinner Shadab Jakati (4/24 for Chennai Super Kings vs Delhi Capitals—then Daredevils—in 2009) and part-time bowler Paul Valthaty (4/29 for Kings XI Punjab vs Deccan Chargers in 2011).
Veteran cricket broadcaster Harsha Bhogle took to X, after an interaction with the debutant, to write: “Delighted for young Ashwani. He looked so happy and seeing that in a young cricketer’s eyes is so heartwarming. It is one of the things I enjoy the most in my profession.”
It seems a pre-match banana was all the fuel Ashwani needed. “I didn’t have anything for lunch, I just had a banana. There was a little pressure. I wasn’t feeling hungry,” he said at the post-match press conference. “But still, I played well, so it’s good.”
Mumbai Indians has also handed a debut this season to young left-arm spinner Vignesh Puthur, who impressed in the team’s first match against Chennai Super Kings, picking up 3/32.
(Edited by Mannat Chugh)