Ashwani Kumar, a medium pacer with the Mumbai Indians, has suddenly become a sensation after his stunning debut in the Indian Premier League. On Monday, he took four crucial wickets against the Kolkata Knight Riders at the iconic Wankhede Stadium. It was quite a sight, as Ashwani, who hails from a village in Punjab, really showcased his talent. His performance helped bowl out Kolkata for a mere 116 runs, leading Mumbai to victory well before the 13th over was up.
At just 23, Ashwani made history by being the first Indian player to grab four wickets on his IPL debut, with impressive bowling figures of 3 overs, 24 runs, and 4 wickets. Those skills knocked out some big names from Kolkata’s batting lineup. It’s fascinating to learn that beneath the cricketing fame, Ashwani is just a simple guy from Jhanjeri who really loves good, hearty Punjabi food. His mom, Meena Kumari, mentioned in an interview that he has a special fondness for besan ka chilla and aloo parathas. You can bet he’s craving some of that home-cooked goodness now that he’s in Mumbai.
After he was named Player of the Match, Ashwani took a moment to chat with commentator Harsha Bhogle. He opened up about how nervous he felt before taking the field. Harsha prompted him to send a message to his family and friends waiting for him back home in Jhanjeri. With heartfelt sincerity, Ashwani said, “Jab bhi game mila, mai mere gaon walon ko proud karvaunga,” which translates to “Whenever I get a game, I will make my village proud.”
His journey to this point has been quite interesting. Before joining the Mumbai Indians, he participated in trials with other IPL teams like the Chennai Super Kings and Rajasthan Royals. His coach, Varinder Singh, who is associated with the District Cricket Association in Mohali, shared some insights about Ashwani’s training. “We focused on getting his inswing right since his balls used to outswing a lot. He practiced yorkers by bowling to Indian player Ramandeep Singh during our sessions,” he explained.
Ashwani has had limited experience, with only four senior T20 matches, alongside a few List A games and two Ranji Trophy appearances under his belt. But what he achieved in such a short span speaks volumes about his potential. When he finally caught the eye of the Mumbai Indians and was picked for a whopping Rs 30 lakh, he didn’t just think of himself. Instead, he shared his good fortune by distributing cricket kits and balls to the local academies around his village.
His story is a solid reminder that with hard work and determination, success can come from the most unexpected places. Ashwani’s journey has just begun, and it’s exciting to see what he will bring to the cricketing world in the future!
