‘I Didn’t Have Lunch, Just Ate a Banana’: Ashwani Kumar Stuns Ravi Shastri with IPL Debut
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A banana can serve various purposes. For example, it can provide the energy needed to become the first Indian cricketer in IPL history to take four wickets on debut. Skeptical? Consider the words of Ashwani Kumar, the latest talent scouted by the Mumbai Indians. After being named Player of the Match for his remarkable debut performance, which helped MI secure their first win in IPL 2025 following two consecutive losses, Ashwani revealed to Ravi Shastri that he had skipped lunch due to the pressure he felt. His only sustenance was a banana.
"This is your first match. No Indian bowler has ever taken four wickets on debut in IPL history. What did you have for lunch?" Shastri inquired during the mid-innings interview.
“I didn’t have lunch at all. I just had a banana because I was so pressured that I didn’t feel hungry," the young left-arm pacer responded.
"That's fantastic! Always keep a banana in your bag," Shastri remarked.
Kumar's impressive figures of 4-24, along with a disciplined bowling effort, limited the champions Kolkata to a mere 116 runs, which Mumbai successfully chased down with over seven overs remaining.
The 23-year-old dismissed Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) captain Ajinkya Rahane, Rinkhu Singh, Manish Pandey, and the formidable Andre Russell.
"(Captain) Hardik Pandya mentioned that since it was your debut match, you should enjoy it. Just continue bowling as you have been," he added.
Pandya credited Kumar's outstanding debut to the thorough scouting efforts of the Mumbai team.
"We believed Ashwani could perform well on this pitch, and it’s all thanks to the scouts who identified him," Pandya stated.
They have visited various locations to select these young players. During a practice match, he exhibited impressive speed, a late swing, and a unique bowling action, all while being a left-handed bowler.
Ashwani Kumar, hailing from Punjab, had participated in only four senior T20 matches before making his IPL debut, along with two Ranji Trophies and four List A matches. This marked the first occasion on which Ashwani took four wickets in a single match. His previous best performances included figures of 3/37 in List A cricket and 1/19 in T20 cricket.
Ryan Rickelton led the charge for Mumbai, scoring a dynamic 62 runs off 41 balls, which included five sixes. In their first home match of the season, Mumbai asserted their dominance right from the start, with New Zealand fast bowler Trent Boult dismissing opener Sunil Narine in the very first over.
