What is Ashwani Kumar's IPL 2025 salary?

Mumbai Indians’ latest pace sensation, Ashwani Kumar, made a dream debut in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 by claiming a four-wicket haul against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at Wankhede Stadium on Monday. The 23-year-old left-arm pacer struck gold on his very first ball, dismissing KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane. His brilliant spell restricted KKR to a modest total of 116, with Kumar becoming the first Indian to bag a four-wicket haul on IPL debut.

Kumar was roped in by Mumbai Indians for INR 30 lakh during the 2025 mega auction. Known for his prowess as a death-over specialist, he had previously been a part of the Punjab Kings squad but didn’t feature in a single game. His impactful performance against KKR, however, has already turned heads and established him as a player to watch this season.

Ashwani Kumar’s rise

The young pacer hails from Jhanjeri, a small town near Chandigarh, and began his cricketing journey representing Punjab in domestic cricket. He made his T20 debut in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy in 2022, playing four matches and picking up three wickets at an economy rate of 8.50. Additionally, he has represented Punjab in two First-Class and four List A matches.

Before his IPL breakthrough, Kumar made waves with his stellar performances in the Sher-e-Punjab T20 tournament, where he represented the BLV Blasters. His best performance in the tournament was a remarkable 4/36, surpassing his previous best of 3/37 in List A cricket and 1/19 in domestic T20s.

Mumbai Indians, renowned for nurturing domestic talent, have shown immense faith in young players this season. Apart from Kumar, the franchise handed a debut to Vignesh Puthur, a left-arm wrist spinner from Kerala, during their clash against Chennai Super Kings (CSK). They also played Andhra’s Satyanarayana Raju in two matches this season.

Kumar’s ability to handle high-pressure situations and deliver in crunch moments makes him a valuable addition to MI’s bowling arsenal. With a confident debut and a historic four-wicket haul, the left-arm pacer has set the tone for a promising IPL career. Fans and cricket pundits are eagerly anticipating his future performances as the Mumbai Indians continue their campaign in search of their sixth IPL title.

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