Mumbai Indians have unearthed another pace sensation in Ashwani Kumar, who delivered a dream debut in the IPL on Monday with a match-winning performance against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). The young seamer from Jhanjheri, Mohali, starred with the ball, claiming 4/24 in just three overs and playing a crucial role in restricting KKR to 116. Bought for his base price of ₹30 lakh in the IPL mega auction, Ashwani overcame immense hardships before making his explosive entry into the tournament.
In an interview with The Indian Express, Ashwani Kumar’s father shared how deeply committed his son has been to cricket since childhood, training relentlessly—whether in pouring rain or under the scorching sun.
“Rain or shine, Ashwani never hesitated to travel to the PCA in Mohali or later to the new stadium in Mullanpur. Sometimes, he would cycle to the academy, take lifts, or use shared autos,” his father, Harkesh Kumar, recalled.
“I remember giving him ₹30 for the fare, and when Mumbai Indians bought him for ₹30 lakh at the IPL mega auction, I knew every penny of that struggle was worth it. Watching him take wickets today, I kept thinking about those nights he returned home at 10 PM after training, only to wake up at 5 AM the next day to do it all over again,” he added.
Ashwani faced several setbacks during trials with Chennai Super Kings, Kolkata Knight Riders, and Rajasthan Royals, but he always looked up to Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell Starc. Little did he know that in IPL 2025, he would be stepping into Bumrah’s shoes for Mumbai Indians.
“He attended multiple IPL trials but always admired Bumrah and Starc. His friends would pitch in to buy him cricket balls, and the first thing he did after Mumbai Indians picked him for ₹30 lakh was to donate cricket kits and balls to academies near our village. He used to dream of wearing a jersey with his own name on it, and after today’s performance, he has ensured that kids will now wear his name on their jerseys,” said his elder brother, Shiv Rana.
After dismantling KKR’s batting lineup, Ashwani was named Player of the Match for Mumbai Indians. His mother, meanwhile, believes he’ll be craving a taste of home after his stellar performance.
“He loves besan ka chilla and aloo parathas. I’m sure he’ll be wanting that in Mumbai today,” she said.
