Ashwani Kumar’s Record-Breaking IPL Debut: Mumbai Indians (MI) left-arm bowler Ashwani Kumar became history maker with his maiden IPL bowling effort as the first Indian pacer to bag four wickets in his opening game in IPL when he restricted Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to be dismissed for merely 116 runs in Wankhede Stadium and becoming the topic of conversation throughout the game.
At only 23 years of age, Ashwani Kumar displayed great composure under pressure in his inaugural IPL match. Notwithstanding the pressure of the situation, he managed to rise to the occasion, conceding just four wickets for 24 runs off only three overs. His contribution saw Mumbai Indians secure their inaugural points of the season.
“I was going great. There was some pressure early on, but due to the team environment, I did not feel under pressure,” Ashwani told the host broadcaster in an interview during the interval between innings.
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A Nervous Debut: Ashwani Kumar Skips Lunch Before Match
In a frank interview, Ashwani confirmed that he had been nervous before the match. He had confessed to not eating his lunch and consuming just a banana because of the pressure from his situation. “I didn’t eat anything for lunch, I ate just a banana. I had a little pressure. I wasn’t feeling like I was hungry,” he admitted. Ashwani chose to ignore his nerves and showcase an incredible performance on his debut.
Ashwani Kumar’s Brilliant Bowling Spell
Ashwani’s debut was nothing short of impressive. He struck with his very first delivery, dismissing KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane, who was caught at deep point. His second over saw another breakthrough with Rinku Singh being dismissed in the same manner. Ashwani’s third over saw a flurry of wickets as he bowled Manish Pandey and then sent the dangerous Andre Russell packing for just five runs.
Recalling the turning points, Ashwani remembered advice from his skipper, Hardik Pandya, who told him to simply have fun playing his debut game and continue to bowl in the manner he has been doing so far. “We had a strategy. But Hardik bhai instructed me to go out and have a good time. Simply continue bowling in the manner in which you’ve been bowling,” Ashwani told us.
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The Vital Job of Hardik Pandya’s Captaincy
MI captain Hardik Pandya’s role in Ashwani’s game was instrumental. Hardik’s encouragement and counsel had a central role to play in Ashwani’s victory, particularly when faced with the dilemma of bowling at Russell.
Hardik had directed Ashwani to bowl at the body of the batter since he was certain that Russell would attempt to play an attacking shot. Ashwani took the suggestion of his captain and retaliated against Russell’s boundary with a calculated combination of short and full balls, which resulted in Russell’s wicket.
Ashwani Kumar’s Record-Breaking IPL Debut
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Ashwani Kumar’s first-match performance not only assisted Mumbai Indians in their quest for a win but also branded his name in IPL history. His four-wicket haul on his debut has raised the bar for Indian bowlers in the IPL, immortalizing him in the league’s history books.
Ashwani Kumar’s IPL debut record is a reflection of his skills, composure, and potential in the world’s most prestigious T20 league. His four-wicket performance against Kolkata Knight Riders on debut is a big achievement, and he is one player that should be watched out for in the coming years.
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