Chandigarh: The vibe at Wankhede Stadium was buzzing on Monday night as the Mumbai Indians (MI) were in dire need of a home victory after suffering two losses at the start of IPL 2025. They found their hero in the relatively unknown Ashwani Kumar, a 23-year-old left-arm pacer from interior Punjab, who made a stunning IPL debut with figures of 4/24, leading MI to an eight-wicket win over the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).

Kumar made an immediate impact with his very first delivery, taking out KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane, who was caught at backward point. He followed that up by dismissing Rinku Singh in the same manner, and then bowled out both Manish Pandey and Andre Russell. For the young talent from Jhanjeri village in Punjab, it was an incredible way to kick off his IPL career. His impressive bowling performance of 3 overs, 24 runs, and 4 wickets earned him the Player-of-the-Match title and accolades from captain Hardik Pandya.

“It feels amazing. I never expected to perform this well. Hardik bhai told me, ‘You’re from Punjab, and Punjabis are fearless, so go out there and intimidate the opponents while having fun,’” he shared with iplt20.com.

Kumar showcased his speed, clocking in at 135kph, 137kph, and 140kph.

So, how did Kumar make his way into MI’s star-studded lineup after only a few white-ball games for Punjab in the 2024-2025 season? His talent shone through in Punjab’s T20 league, Sher-e-Punjab, catching the attention of scouts from various IPL teams who were present at the PCA Stadium in Mohali. It wasn’t just MI that was interested; CSK, PBKS, RR, and KKR also reached out to him for trials.

He joined my academy nearly two years ago, looking to improve his variations, speed, line, and length. He had a natural gift for the game and a strong drive to succeed. His excitement was through the roof when MI picked him up at the auction, shared his coach Varinder Singh, who runs the Launching Pad Cricket Academy in Mohali, where Kumar trains alongside other IPL players like Gurnoor Brar and Ramandeep Singh.

“When MI selected him for ₹30 lakh at the auction, he immediately ramped up his training, focusing on bowlers like Trent Boult and Jasprit Bumrah,” he added.

Kumar made his Ranji Trophy debut in 2019 after impressive showings in district tournaments, coinciding with the state association's push to develop fast bowlers. Unfortunately, an injury set him back. “He suffered an elbow injury during the 2019-2020 season, which kept him out the following season, and then the lockdown hit. He was really disheartened. The lockdown made things even tougher. He made a comeback in 2021, and his career got back on track,” explained his older brother Shiv Singh Rana, a farmer who helps their father Harkesh Singh Rana in the fields.

After recovering from his injury, he debuted in the one-day Vijay Hazare Trophy in 2021, reigniting his dreams of playing for India someday.

“He decided to stop his studies after Class 12. While his peers were considering moving to Canada or pursuing college degrees, he was determined to carve out a cricket career. The MI kit is his first sponsored gear. He never had a contract with any sports brand and initially struggled to afford spikes that cost around ₹10,000-12,000. As he began playing in inter-district tournaments, he started earning money, which he invested in his training, gear, and diet,” his brother noted.

Kumar's family faced a lot of challenges due to their low income. “He was the only one in our family who had a passion for cricket. After learning about his love for fast bowling, a family friend suggested that our dad sign him up at the Mohali Cricket Association academy. It was quite a distance from our village, and he would often ride his bike about 40 km each day to get there.”

His coach Varinder commented, “The IPL has given him a solid foundation, but he needs to keep building on it. He understands how crucial domestic cricket is. His dream of playing for India has been reignited,” added his coach Singh.

Harmeet Bansal, a former seamer for Deccan Chargers and Kings XI Punjab, who was the bowling coach for the Punjab men’s team last season, had Kumar on his BLV Blasters team during the first season of the Sher-e-Punjab Cup. “He has incredible talent, generates impressive pace, and can swing the ball both ways, which really sets him apart. However, with Gurnoor Brar and Arshdeep in the mix, he hasn’t had many opportunities to play for Punjab,” Bansal noted.

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