Mon Mar 31 14:40:00 UTC 2025: ## IPL 2025: Ashwini Kumar’s Historic Debut for Mumbai Indians
**Mumbai, India** – Ashwini Kumar etched his name in IPL history on Monday, taking four wickets on his debut for the Mumbai Indians against the Kolkata Knight Riders in Match 12 at the Wankhede Stadium. The 23-year-old left-arm pacer became the first Indian bowler to achieve this feat in an IPL debut.
Kumar’s impressive performance included dismissing KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane with his very first ball. He went on to claim the wickets of Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey, and Andre Russell, conceding only 24 runs in his spell. His devastating yorkers, clocked at nearly 135 kmph, and variations including slower balls proved too much for the KKR batting line-up.
The young bowler, hailing from Jhanjheri, Punjab, was bought by MI for ₹30 lakh in the IPL 2025 mega auction. While he was part of the Punjab Kings squad last season, he didn’t get a chance to play. Kumar’s talent shone through in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2022 and the Sher-e-Punjab T20 tournament, where he showcased his ability to take crucial wickets. His consistent performance, even capturing four wickets for 36 runs for BLV Blasters, caught the attention of the Mumbai Indians. With this remarkable debut, Ashwini Kumar is set to be a name to watch in the ongoing IPL season.
First Piper 