Mumbai Indians have unearthed another hidden gem! 23-year-old pace bowler Ashwani Kumar made a dream debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL), delivering a match-winning performance against defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
Bowling with raw pace and swing, Ashwani ripped through KKR’s batting lineup, picking up 4 wickets for just 24 runs in 3 overs—the best debut figures by an Indian in IPL history! His sensational spell helped Mumbai dismiss KKR for a mere 116 runs in 16.2 overs, setting the stage for an easy 8-wicket victory.
Captain Hardik Pandya Praises MI’s Scouts
After the match, Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya couldn’t stop praising his team’s scouting team for finding yet another rising star.
“I’m really happy for the young kid. Credit goes to our scouts—they travel everywhere to find these talents. We saw him in a practice game, and he had something special: late swing, bounce, and a unique left-arm action,” Pandya said.
This isn’t the first time Mumbai’s scouting team has struck gold this season. Last week, another young debutant Vignesh Puthur grabbed headlines with his 3-32 against Chennai Super Kings.
Teammates Impressed by Ashwani’s Pace
Mumbai’s opening batsman Ryan Rickelton, who played a crucial role with an unbeaten 62 runs, was also in awe of Ashwani’s bowling.
“He’s way quicker than people realize! He swings the new ball, but he also has a second plan when there’s no swing. He really rushes batters, and that’s what makes him special,” said Rickelton.
With this kind of performance, Ashwani Kumar has already made a mark, and fans are excited to see what more he can bring to the table for Mumbai Indians in this IPL season!
