Ashwini Kumar’s name is on the lips of every cricket fan these days. This young fast bowler created a stir by taking 4 wickets against KKR in his very first match in IPL 2025.
But did you know that Chennai Super Kings (CSK) rejected this star bowler after the trial?
Ashwini, playing for Mumbai Indians, dismissed legendary KKR batsmen like Ajinkya Rahane, Rinku Singh, Andre Russell and Manish Pandey with his stormy bowling at the Wankhede Stadium on March 31. This 23-year-old boy surprised everyone by taking 4 wickets for 24 runs in just 4 overs.
Ashwini’s story is no less than a film. Coming from a small village, the family of this player has only one and a half acres of land.
Ashwini’s father Harkesh Kumar says, “Be it rain or scorching sun, Ashwini never missed practice. Many times he would go to the PCA Academy in Mohali by bicycle or by paying Rs 30 in a shared auto.”
The boy who once used to travel in an auto for Rs 30 was bought by Mumbai Indians for Rs 30 lakh in the IPL 2025 auction.
Earlier, Ashwini had also given trials for CSK, KKR and Rajasthan Royals, but he did not get a chance.
Ashwini’s brother Shiv revealed: “He had participated in trials for IPL teams, but he always wanted to be like Jasprit Bumrah and Mitchell Starc. His friends used to collect money to buy cricket balls for him and when he was bought by Mumbai Indians for Rs 30 lakh, the first thing he did was to distribute cricket kits and balls to the academies near our village. “
Ashwini, who made his Ranji Trophy debut in 2019, has trained with Abhishek Sharma and Arshdeep Singh at the PCA academy. After being rejected by CSK, he is now making a splash for Mumbai Indians.
The special thing is that Ashwini trains in the same academy as KKR star Ramandeep Singh, and now he has defeated KKR in his very first match.
