Mumbai Indians have given a big opportunity to left-arm pacer Ashwani Kumar, who made his debut against Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL 2025 today at Wankhede Stadium. The 23-year-old, signed for ?30 lakh in the mega auction, is known for his control and pace variations, making him a valuable asset in pressure situations. In his debut match itself he dismissed KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane.
Ashwani Kumar¡¯s biggest strength is his ability to mix up his deliveries. His wide range includes cutters, slow bouncers, floating full-tosses, and pinpoint yorkers. He is particularly effective in the death overs, where his deceptive bowling makes it tough for batters to score freely. His ability to adjust to different conditions and execute under pressure played a key role in MI¡¯s decision to sign him.
Ashwani made his First-Class debut for Punjab at 18 and played in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2022. Though he featured in only four T20 games, he made a name for himself in Punjab¡¯s Sher-e-Punjab T20 tournament, where he took 4/36 for BLV Blasters. His performances earned him a recall to Punjab¡¯s List A and T20 teams, where he continued to impress.
Despite being part of the Punjab Kings squad last season, he didn¡¯t get a chance to play. However, MI saw his potential, following his performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy. In SMAT 2024, he picked up crucial wickets against Mizoram and Meghalaya, and in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, he took 3/37 against Arunachal.
Ashwani isn¡¯t the only new domestic talent MI has introduced this season. The five-time champions also gave debuts to Kerala¡¯s Vignesh Puthur, a left-arm unorthodox bowler, and Andhra¡¯s Satyanarayana Raju. Now, all focus will be on Ashwani as he steps onto the IPL stage for the first time, hoping to prove his worth on one of the biggest platforms in cricket.
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