Ashwani Kumar was born on 29 August 2001 in Jhanjeri, a village in Mohali district of Punjab, India. Growing up in a relatively modest surrounding, he faced financial challenges and limited access to professional cricketing facilities initially. Despite these obstacles, his passion for the game drove him to train hard. He often traveled to Mohali and practiced under less-than-ideal conditions. His coaches noticed his natural talent early on—particularly his left arm seam, ability to move the ball, and willingness to work hard. At Punjab Cricket Academy and other local nets, he gradually developed his pace and variations under mentors like VRV Singh, Harwinder Baidwan, and coaches in the PCA (Punjab Cricket Association).
Domestic Cricket and Early Struggles
Ashwani made his first-class debut for Punjab in December 2019 during the Ranji Trophy. In that match, he showed promise by taking wickets, though his figures remained modest. After that, however, he had to contend with injuries that sidelined him for periods, and intense competition among pace bowlers in Punjab made regular opportunities hard to come by. His List A debut came in December 2021 in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, followed shortly by appearances in the domestic T20 circuits. During these early years, his performances were decent but inconsistent, as he was still raw and learning to adjust to higher levels.
Style & Skill Set
Ashwani is a left-arm medium-fast bowler known for his deceptive pace, swing, and ability to bowl well in the death overs. His variations—such as yorkers, short balls, and slower deliveries—have begun to stand out. Coaches also particularly highlight his quick arm action and good seam position. Though not especially tall, he has learned to generate good zip and movement off the pitch, and his ability to swing the new ball makes him dangerous. Over time, he has also improved his fitness, bowling control, and ability to bowl under pressure. His batting, on the other hand, is minimal—he is primarily focused on his bowling contributions.
Breakthrough in Sher-E-Punjab & Domestic T20s
A significant rise in Ashwani’s profile came through T20 tournaments like Sher-E-Punjab. In the 2023 edition of Sher-E-Punjab T20 Cup, he took 10 wickets in 8 matches for BLV Blasters, helping them to claim the title. The following edition, representing Agri King’s Knights, he picked up 11 wickets in 7 matches, showcasing consistency and effectiveness in death overs. These performances were critical in catching the attention of IPL scouts.
IPL Entry & Memorable Debut
In the IPL 2025 mega auction, Ashwani Kumar was bought by the Mumbai Indians for ₹ 30 lakh. On 30 March 2025, he made his IPL debut against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Wankhede Stadium. It was a dream start: he dismissed the KKR captain, Ajinkya Rahane, with his very first delivery in the IPL. He didn’t stop there—he also got the wickets of Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey, and Andre Russell, finishing with figures of 4 wickets for 24 runs in 3 overs. This performance not only helped his team win the match by a large margin but also saw him earn the Player of the Match award. His figures are among the best by an Indian on IPL debut, marking him out as a player to watch.
Achievements & Key Moments
Some key highlights in Ashwani’s career so far include being the first Indian bowler to take a four-wicket haul on his IPL debut. He also made an immediate impact by taking a wicket with his very first delivery in the IPL. Domestically, his performances in Sher-E-Punjab, as described, have been standout moments. Another important moment was his decision to persist with cricket despite seasonal injuries and turning down a stable job opportunity in 2024 that would have required his shifting away from Punjab. This reflects his commitment and belief in his own game.
Challenges & What Lies Ahead
Ashwani’s journey hasn’t been smooth. Injuries have disrupted continuity, limiting his match exposure during key years. Also, competition within the Punjab domestic structure, especially among pace bowlers, has meant that breaking into a regular spot has been tough. To build on his IPL success, he will need to maintain consistency, refine his control and variations, manage workload to avoid injuries, and build fitness. If he can do those things, then there is potential for him to play regularly in the IPL, possibly earn India A or higher-level recognition, especially in formats favorable to his bowling style.
