Ashwani Kumar announced his arrival in the IPL with a record-breaking debut performance, playing a pivotal role in Mumbai Indians’ emphatic eight-wicket win over Kolkata Knight Riders at Wankhede Stadium. The 23-year-old left-arm pacer etched his name in the record books by becoming the first Indian debutant to claim four wickets in his first IPL match.
Kumar’s bowling spell was nothing short of spectacular, dismantling KKR’s batting lineup with precision. His first victim, Sunil Narine, fell in the opening over, followed swiftly by Quinton de Kock, caught brilliantly off Kumar’s delivery. He then continued his dominance by dismissing Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey, and KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane. The explosive Andre Russell was restricted to just five runs before Kumar wrapped up the innings, leaving KKR struggling.
KKR collapsed in 16.2 overs, managing a meager total of 116 runs. Mumbai’s bowling attack was bolstered by strong performances from Trent Boult (1/23), Hardik Pandya (1/10), Vignesh Puthur (1/10), and Deepak Chahar (2/19), ensuring KKR had no breathing room.
In response, Mumbai Indians showcased aggressive batting, led by Ryan Rickelton’s stellar 62 off 41 balls. While Rohit Sharma (13 off 12) and Will Jacks (16 off 17) played supporting roles, Suryakumar Yadav’s explosive 27 off 9 balls sealed the match in Mumbai’s favor.
Ashwani Kumar’s extraordinary debut has made him an instant sensation, marking him as a future star in the Mumbai Indians’ lineup. With this performance, he has set high expectations for the upcoming IPL 2025 season.
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