MI vs KKR: Ashwani Kumar Becomes 10th Player to Take Wicket Off First Ball on IPL Debut

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Ashwani Kumar announced his arrival to the Indian Premier League in style, joining an exclusive club by striking off his first delivery in the lucrative league and later producing one of the best figures by an Indian on debut.

During the IPL 2025 clash between Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Monday (March 31), the 23-year-old from Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar in Punjab, made a dream start to his career on the big stage.

While he claimed the catch of Quinton de Kock in the second over, Ashwani struck gold off his very first delivery in IPL by removing KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane, who holed out to Tilak Varma at deep backward point.

This marked a dream start for the left-arm pacer, but he was not the first to the feat as nine other bowlers had claimed a wicket in the first ball of their IPL debut with Chennai Super Kings' Matheesha Pathirana being the latest, and Indian legend Ishant Sharma being the first. Here is the list:

Players to take wicket in first ball on IPL debut

• Ishant Sharma (KKR) dismissed Rahul Dravid (RCB) in 2008
• Wilkin Mota (PBKS) dismissed Suresh Raina (CSK) in 2008
• Shane Harwood (RR) dismissed Azhar Bilakhia (Deccan Chargers) in 2009
• Amit Singh (RR) dismissed Sunny Sohal (PBKS) in 2009
• Charl Langeveldt (KKR) dismissed Rob Quiney (RR) in 2009
• Ali Murtaza (MI) dismissed Naman Ojha (RR) in 2010
• TD Sudhindhra (Deccan Chargers) dismissed Faf Du Plessis (CSK) in 2012
• Alzarri Joseph (MI) dismissed David Warner (SRH) in 2019
• Matheesha Pathirana (CSK) dismissed Shubman Gill (GT) in 2022
• Ashwani Kumar (MI) dismissed Ajinkya Rahane (KKR) in 2025

The youngster's dream start to his IPL career did not just stop there as he went to add the scalps of Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey and Andre Russell to create further history on his debut.

While he forced Rinku into playing a lofted short, Ashwani cleaned up both Pandey and Russell to reduce KKR to 88 for 8, finishing with 24/4 in 3 overs, one of the best on IPL debut. Here is a look at the best spells in first IPL match:

Best Figures on IPL debut

• 6/12 - Alzarri Joseph (Mumbai Indians) vs Sunrisers Hyderabad in 2019
• 5/17 - Andrew Tye (Gujarat Lions) vs Rising Pune Supergiant in 2017
• 4/11 - Shoaib Akhtar (Kolkata Knight Riders) vs Delhi Daredevils in 2008
• 4/24 - Ashwani Kumar (Mumbai Indians) vs Kolkata Knight Riders in 2025
• 4/26 - Kevon Cooper (Rajasthan Royals) vs Kings XI Punjab in 2012
• 4/33 - David Wiese (Royal Challengers Bangalore) vs Mumbai Indians in 2015

As mentioned earlier, Ashwani's figures of 4/24 was the best spell by an Indian player on IPL debut, and this also made the 23-year-old, the first Indian to take a four-wicket haul in his very first IPL game. This achievement, which helped MI claim an 8-wicket win, also earned him the player of the match award.