Mumbai Indians (MI) left-arm seamer Ashwani Kumar made history by becoming the first Indian bowler to take a four-wicket haul on IPL debut, against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.
"I was feeling really good. There was a little pressure earlier, but thanks to the atmosphere of the team, I didn't feel any pressure," Ashwani, 23, told the host broadcaster at the break after KKR were dismissed for 116.
Ashwani, who was bought for INR 30 lakh at the mega auction last year, said he had been nervous and skipped lunch before the evening game began at 7.30pm. "I didn't have anything for lunch, I just had a banana. There was a little pressure. I wasn't feeling hungry," he said. "But still, I played well, so it's good."
He struck with his first delivery, having KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane caught at deep point. Rinku Singh was also caught at deep point in Ashwani's second over, before Manish Pandey was bowled three balls later. In this third over, Ashwani bowled Andre Russell for 5 and finished with 4 for 24 in three overs.
While the MI team management made game plans for Ashwani, their main instruction to him was to go out and enjoy his debut. "We had plans. But [Hardik Pandya, the MI captain] said that since it's your debut match, enjoy yourself. Just keep bowling the way you have been," Ashwani said.
After being hit for a boundary by Russell first ball of his third over, Ashwani responded with two short balls before bowling a full one that the batter missed with an attacking shot. "Yes, the captain did have a role. Hardik bhai had told me that he will try to attack you," Ashwani said. "He told me to bowl into his body. But the situation was such that he tried to hit me and got out."
The IPL debutant took 4 for 24 for MI against KKR, who were bowled out for 116
With KKR all out in 16.2 overs, Ashwani didn't complete his spell, but played a crucial role in putting MI on course to earn their first points of the season.
Hardik said that Ashwani impressed in a practice game before the match, and showed a range of skills which led to him being picked for their first home game of the season.
"For today's game, it was simply, we played a practice game and he had that zip, he had that little late swing, something off the wicket and had a different action and plus, he was a lefty," Hardik said at the post-match presentation ceremony. "We just thought that because of the options he has… the good death options, we just backed him.
"First of all, the way he took that wicket of Russell, it was a very, very crucial wicket," Hardik said, before also praising him for his leaping catch at mid-off to account for KKR opener Quinton de Kock. "I think that was terrific to see a fast bowler jumping that high."