Mumbai Bowling Prowess Limits Kolkata to 116
Mumbai Indians won convincingly by 8 wickets against Kolkata Knight Riders at home. Kolkata, who batted first, was not able to face Mumbai's bowlers and got all out for only 116 runs. Mumbai chased down the target with ease in 12.5 overs.
Ashwani Kumar Dazzles on Debut with Record-Breaking Performance
Debut bowler Ashwani Kumar was instrumental in Mumbai's victory. He bagged four wickets in his first ever IPL match and was awarded the Player of the Match. Interestingly, he is the first Indian bowler to bag four wickets on debut in the IPL. His return was almost instant as he bowled out Ajinkya Rahane with the first delivery of his IPL career.
Tilak Varma started struggling but finally pulled off a breathtaking one-handed catch at deep backward point, giving Ashwani Kumar his first wicket. In the same over, Rinku Singh and Manish Pandey were dismissed, who had come in as an impact player. Ashwani later clean-bowled power-hitter Andre Russell with a brilliant ball.
Ashwani Kumar's Journey to IPL Glory
Ashwani Kumar, born in Mohali, initially made a name for himself in the Sher-e-Punjab T20 tournament last year. His performance impressed the management of Mumbai Indians. A death-over bowling specialist, the 23-year-old pacer was picked up by Mumbai for ₹30 lakhs in the IPL 2025 mega auction.
In the 2024 IPL season, he was included in the Punjab Kings team but was not given a chance to play. He previously made his debut for Punjab during the 2022 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he played four matches and took three wickets with an economy rate of 5.85. He also appeared in two first-class matches, getting three wickets at an economy of 4.03.
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