Mumbai Indians' young fast bowler Ashwani Kumar made a remarkable impression during his IPL debut, delivering an outstanding performance that significantly weakened the Kolkata Knight Riders at Wankhede Stadium. The left-arm bowler, initially feeling the weight of his debut, made an immediate impact by taking the wicket of KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane with his very first delivery. This crucial dismissal bolstered his confidence, and he ultimately finished with four wickets as KKR was dismissed for a mere 116 runs.

Ashwani displayed exceptional skill, wreaking havoc on the defending champions by taking the key wickets of Rahane, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell, and Manish Pandey.

The 23-year-old pacer shared that he had only a banana for lunch, as the pressure of the match left him without an appetite. 

“I felt very good; although there was pressure, the supportive team environment helped me relax. I didn’t have lunch today; I only ate a banana because I didn’t feel hungry due to the pressure,” Ashwani stated to the broadcasters following KKR's innings.

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The young fast bowler from Punjab discussed his strategy, revealing that the MI management encouraged him to relish his debut experience. 

"I devised a small plan, and they (the team management) advised me to enjoy my debut match and trust in my abilities," he stated.

‘Hardik bhai told me to…’

Ashwani maintained his composure against the formidable KKR batsmen, executing a strategic plan to dismiss them. He initially targeted Russell with a series of short deliveries, followed by a length ball that angled across and struck the top of the stumps.

During the mid-innings interval, the left-arm pacer revealed that it was captain Hardik Pandya's strategy to bowl short and at Russell's body, which ultimately led to deceiving the West Indian power hitter with a well-placed length delivery.

“The captain played a crucial role. Hardik bhai advised me to bowl short and target the body, which resulted in a wicket,” he stated.

Ashwani became the tenth bowler in IPL history to take a wicket with his first delivery and the first Indian to achieve a four-wicket haul in his debut match.

The young pacer expressed that his family in Punjab was eagerly anticipating his debut, and he felt grateful for the chance to compete against KKR. 

“In my village, everyone was watching. They had been waiting for my debut, and by God's grace, I received the opportunity tonight and performed well,” he remarked.

Read Also: Ashwani Kumar’s IPL Debut Begins with a Bang – Rahane Falls First Ball

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