NEW DELHI: Mumbai Indians’ left-arm pacer Ashwani Kumar had a dream debut in the IPL, striking with his very first delivery against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Monday at the Wankhede Stadium.
The 23-year-old dismissed KKR skipper Ajinkya Rahane in the fourth over, becoming only the second MI bowler to claim a wicket with his first ball in the tournament. The first to achieve this feat was Alzarri Joseph in 2019 when he dismissed Sunrisers Hyderabad’s David Warner.
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Ashwani also became the 10th bowler overall to take a wicket on the first ball of their IPL debut. His breakthrough came courtesy of a stunning catch by Tilak Varma, who initially fumbled but recovered quickly to complete a one-handed grab at deep backward point.
After being sent in to bat by MI skipper Hardik Pandya, KKR struggled early on, losing wickets at regular intervals. At the end of the powerplay, they were 41/4, with Ashwani’s early strike setting the tone for MI’s dominance.
Hailing from Mohali, Punjab, Ashwani has previously represented Punjab in first-class, List A, and T20 cricket. His IPL debut was eagerly anticipated, and he did not disappoint.
“We’re going to bowl first. Looks like a good track, and early swing might help. We have a debutant – Ashwani Kumar,” Hardik Pandya said after winning the toss.
With a wicket off his first ball, Ashwani Kumar has announced himself on the IPL stage in style.
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