Who is Ashwani Kumar - Mumbai Indians' latest uncapped Indian to take IPL by storm

Ashwani Kumar - Mumbai Indians' latest uncapped Indian to take IPL by storm (AFP Photo)

They keep tumbling out of the cupboard. The unknown, unheralded and uncapped Indians. They have taken the 2025 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) by storm, scoring brisk and timely runs, while also taking crucial wickets to surprise their vaunted opponents and justifying the faith shown in them by the talent scouts, the team management and owners.

Ashwani Kumar was the latest to join the gang. Making his IPL debut and playing for Mumbai Indians, he ran through the Kolkata Knight Riders line-up to pave the way for a maiden win of the season for his team. The left-arm pacer from Punjab ended with dream figures of 3-0-24-4. He took the big wickets to reduce this match to a virtual no-contest even before the innings break.

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The 23-year-old had made his first-class debut five seasons ago. Ashwani played for Punjab in the white-ball formats in the subsequent years. However, his career with Punjab never took off. In all these years, he has played two first-class and four List A and T20 matches apiece. A tally of eight wickets in these 10 outings meant nobody noticed his efforts.

The Mumbai Indians scouting team must have seen something different. Bought for Rs 30 lakh, Ashwani was lucky to see Ajinkya Rahane throw his bat at a wide one and get caught in the deep. It was the first-ever ball bowled by him in this competition. Rinku Singh, too, gave the bowler the charge and ended up lobbing a catch in the outfield. But, Manish Pandey and Andre Russell had their woodwork disturbed. These were massive wickets and tilted the match in favour of Mumbai Indians.

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While TV commentators started praising Ashwani’s smooth action, rhythm and ability to keep the batters guessing with variations in line and length despite not being express in pace, the man of the moment said he was nervous. “I was feeling pressure but the team environment did not make me feel that way,” Ashwani told the official broadcaster.

“There was pressure. I had planned a little, but they told me to enjoy myself on debut and bowl what I have been bowling. Hardik bhai (Pandya) told me to bowl short and to bowl at the body, and the situation led to a wicket. In my village, everyone would be watching. They were just waiting for my debut, and by god’s grace, I got an opportunity tonight,” he said.

Vignesh Puthur (chinaman, Mumbai Indians), Priyansh Arya (opener, Punjab Kings), Aniket Verma (batter, Sunrisers Hyderabad), Vipraj Nigam (all-rounder, Delhi Capitals) were some of the lesser-known Indian players to have made heads turn in the previous games this season. On Monday, Wankhede Stadium saw the rise of another new face who promises a lot.