Ashwani Kumar makes record-breaking IPL debut for Mumbai Indians – INA NEWS

A glowing debut efficiency by medium pacer Ashwani Kumar, powered up by a single banana, helped Mumbai Indians register their first win of the Indian Premier League (IPL) season, downing Kolkata Knight Riders by eight wickets.

Kumar’s beautiful however extremely sudden four-wickets-for-24-runs effort, coupled with an total disciplined bowling efficiency by the house group, restricted champions Kolkata to a modest whole of 116, which Mumbai chased down with greater than seven overs to spare on Monday.

Kumar’s efficiency with the ball was not solely the all-time finest by an Indian IPL rookie, however it’s additionally the fourth-best debutant bowling figures in IPL historical past.

The 23-year-old took the essential wickets of Kolkata captain Ajinkya Rahane, Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey and the highly effective Andre Russell.

“I didn’t have something for lunch, I simply had a banana. There was a bit of strain. I wasn’t feeling hungry,” mentioned Kumar.

“However nonetheless, I performed effectively, so it’s good.

“[Captain] Hardik Pandya mentioned that because it’s your debut match, take pleasure in your self. Simply hold bowling the way in which you will have been,” he added.

Pandya mentioned the credit score for his bowler’s spectacular debut ought to go to the in depth Mumbai scouting community.

“We thought Ashwani can are available in on this pitch and bowl the way in which he bowled. It’s all the scouts – they picked him,” mentioned Pandya.

“They’ve gone to all of the locations and picked these younger youngsters. We performed a observe sport, he had that zip, that late swing, one thing off the wicket, a special motion and he was a leftie.”

Following Kumar’s exploits with the ball, South African wicketkeeper-batsman Ryan Rickelton spearheaded Mumbai’s run chase at Wankhede Stadium, scoring a fast 62 off 41 balls in an innings laced with 5 sixes.

T20 specialist Suryakumar Yadav’s quickfire 27 off simply 9 balls ensured Mumbai sealed the win over Kolkata of their first residence IPL match of the 12 months.