Ashwani

Kumar

Ashwani Kumar Biography and Career

One of the young talents in Indian cricket, Ashwini Kumar, is a rising star who has quickly made his mark as a left-arm pacer with the ability to bowl under pressure. The 23-year-old represents Punjab in domestic cricket who has earned a name for himself as a death overs specialist because of his impressive performances in the domestic circuit.

Ashwani’s cricketing journey started on the dusty grounds of Mohali, where he sharpened his skills in local tournaments. His first-class debut came on December 9, 2019, for Punjab in the 2019–20 Ranji Trophy against Rajasthan. His List A debut came on December 8, 2021, for Punjab in the 2021–22 Vijay Hazare Trophy and T20 debut in the 2022 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy that showcased his potential as a multi-format bowler.

Despite making his first-class debut for Punjab at just 18, Ashwini lacked much popularity until the launch of Punjab’s own T20 league -- the Sher-e-Punjab T20 Trophy.

In a match between BLV Blasters and Agri Kings Knights, Ashwani's performance truly received praise from the cricketing experts. In that match, while Ramandeep Singh came into the spotlight by hitting six sixes in an over, Ashwani grabbed attention due to his final over performance. In his last over, he defended 8 runs, conceded just 2 singles and 2 byes and took a crucial wicket to ensure a thrilling 3-run win.

In the next match of the same tournament, Ashwini was once again trusted by his team to bowl the final over of the match, where 11 runs were required. In his over, using wide yorkers along with slower balls, he restricted the opposition to 10 runs, winning the match by one run.

In the 2023 Sher-e-Punjab season, Ashwini took eight wickets in 10 matches, often being the deciding factor in close encounters. His impressive performances earned him a spot on the Agri Kings Knights for the 2024 edition -- a defining moment in his career.

His continuous performances in domestic cricket caught the eye of IPL scouts. During the 2025 mega auction, Mumbai Indians (MI) acquired him for Rs 30 lakh, a testament to his growing reputation. Playing alongside legends like Jasprit Bumrah, Trent Boult is set to hone his skills on the big stage.

He played his first game in the Indian Premier League on March 30, 2025, against the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), where he surprised everyone with his performance. On his debut, he took 4 wickets by giving just 24 overs in his 3-over spell.

Despite having played in a few domestic matches, Ashwani had never picked up over 3 wickets in any format. By taking 4 wickets, the 23-year-old pacer made a statement by dismissing some of the biggest names in the IPL.

On the very first ball of his opening over, Ashwani picked his first IPL wicket by dismissing KKR's captain, Ajinkya Rahane. The wicket put the left-arm pacer on the map. The other wickets include Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey, and Andre Russell -- one of the big names of the IPL. He made history by becoming the first Indian bowler to take a four-wicket haul on his IPL debut.

During the first innings break, when Ashwin was asked how he felt on his IPL debut, he told the host broadcaster that he was feeling really good. "There was a bit of pressure initially, but thanks to the team atmosphere, I didn't feel any pressure."

His debut performance has raised the expectations of MI fans, so it will be interesting to see how he is going to perform in the upcoming matches of the IPL 2025 season.

Ashwani Kumar Records Section

Ashwani Kumar Domestic Cricket:

• List A Cricket Best Bowling Figures (2024): Took 3 wickets and gave 37 runs in a game against Arunachal Pradesh.

Ashwani Kumar Indian Premier League:

• First Indian Bowler to Take a Four-Wicket Haul on Debut (2025): Playing for Mumbai Indians, took 4 wickets by giving just 24 runs in 3 overs in a match against Kolkata Knight Riders.