Mumbai Indians’ young pacer Ashwani Kumar had a dream IPL debut as he took four wickets to help his team bowl out Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) for just 116 runs at the Wankhede Stadium.
The 23-year-old left-arm fast bowler was feeling the pressure of his first IPL match and was so nervous that he could only eat a banana for lunch. However, his performance on the field spoke for itself as he dismissed KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane on his very first ball in the IPL. This early wicket boosted his confidence, and he went on to take four wickets in total, including big names like Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, and Manish Pandey.
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Ashwani’s Strategy and Hardik Pandya’s Guidance
After KKR’s innings, Ashwani shared that his team had advised him to just enjoy the game and trust his skills. Speaking about how he dismissed Russell, he credited MI captain Hardik Pandya for the strategy.
“Hardik bhai told me to bowl short and target his body. That helped me set him up, and then I bowled a length ball that took his wicket,” Ashwani explained.
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A Special Moment for Ashwani and His Family
Ashwani created history by becoming the first Indian bowler to take four wickets on IPL debut. He also became only the 10th player ever to take a wicket on his first IPL ball.
The young pacer from Punjab expressed his happiness, saying that his family and villagers were eagerly waiting for his debut.
“In my village, everyone was watching. They were just waiting for my debut, and by God’s grace, I got this opportunity and performed well,” he said.
It was a night to remember for Ashwani Kumar, and his performance has already made him a promising player to watch in the IPL!
