Mumbai Indians pacer Ashwani Kumar turned heads with his fiery spell on debut in IPL 2025 in the game against Kolkata Knight Riders. Playing in the absence of veteran Jasprit Bumrah, the Punjab fast-bowler rattled KKR’s middle-order and finished the match with outstanding figures of 4/24. Ashwani went on to then play 6 more matches in the season and has now proven his mettle to extend his stay with the five-time champions.
What Hardik, Rohit told Ashwani in IPL 2025
Speaking to the media during the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament, Ashwani revealed that he had been told by MI captain Hardik Pandya and former skipper Rohit Sharma that he would be bowling in the death overs. The 23-year-old said that the veteran duo had asked him to stay calm and back his skills while also asking him to prepare mentally.
“It was surreal. I still remember meeting Hardik (Pandya) bhaiyya and Rohit (Sharma) bhaiyya. They told me I would be bowling in the death overs and helped me prepare mentally. The message was clear: stay calm, back your skills,” Ashwani said.
Ashwani finished the season with 11 wickets to his name, averaging 21.09. He got the opportunity to play alongside legends like Bumrah and Trent Boult. The Punjab pacer revealed that Boult was impressed by his ability to swing the ball and even nicknamed him ‘swingie’. Meanwhile, the fast bowler said that Bumrah had taught him how to read the wicket and had convinced him that he would eventually go on to win matches for MI.
“Bumrah bhai was amazing. He taught me how to read the wicket and how to control the game from my end. He said there will be plenty of matches ahead and I’d eventually win games for my team—but I must remain balanced, both on and off the field,” Ashwani added.
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