Ashwani Kumar, the young left-arm seamer from Jhanjheri, Mohali, made a spectacular entry into the Indian Premier League (IPL) with a performance that will be remembered for years to come. On his debut for Mumbai Indians against Kolkata Knight Riders at the iconic Wankhede Stadium, Kumar not only struck with his very first delivery but also finished with an impressive four-wicket haul, restricting KKR to a modest total of 116.
Kumar’s figures of 4/24 in his three-over spell were pivotal in setting up a comfortable victory for Mumbai Indians, who chased down the target with ease, thanks to blistering knocks from Ryan Rickelton and Suryakumar Yadav. The 23-year-old’s victims included KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane, Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey, and the formidable Andre Russell, showcasing his ability to dismantle a strong batting lineup.
Reflecting on his remarkable debut, Kumar expressed his gratitude and surprise at receiving the Player of the Match award. “It is a big thing for me that I got this opportunity and that I am getting this award. Never thought about this, just did my process and happy (to get this award). I am from Jhanjheri in Mohali district – to come from there to here, that is the result of my hard work and by god’s grace, I am here,” he said.
Kumar’s performance etched his name into the IPL record books as the first Indian bowler to take a four-wicket haul on debut. He joined an elite list of bowlers, including Alzarri Joseph (6/12), Andrew Tye (5/17), and Shoaib Akhtar (4/11), who have achieved four or more wickets on their IPL debuts. Additionally, Kumar became the 15th player overall, and the first Indian since Hanuma Vihari, to strike with his first ball in the IPL.
The nerves were evident as Kumar admitted to skipping lunch and only consuming a banana before the game. However, his impact was immediate and undeniable, dismissing Rahane caught at deep point on the very first ball, followed by Rinku Singh and Manish Pandey in quick succession, and finally Andre Russell to complete his spell.
Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya praised the scouting team for identifying Kumar’s potential. “We thought Ashwani can come in on this pitch and bowl the way he bowled. It is all the scouts – they picked him,” said Pandya. “They have gone to all the places and picked these young kids. We played a practice game, he had that zip, that late swing, something off the wicket, a different action and he was a leftie.”
The evening began with a humorous moment when Pandya momentarily forgot Kumar’s name during the coin toss, a memory quickly overshadowed by Kumar’s heroics on the field. From a forgotten name at the toss to a record-setter on debut, Ashwani Kumar’s journey on his first IPL match was nothing short of extraordinary.