MUMBAI: A beauty about the Indian Premier League (IPL) is that it can help discover talented players who can be lost in the world of other domestic tournaments in India. In December 2019, a 17-year-old left-arm pacer made an unimpressive first-class debut for Punjab in the Ranji Trophy, taking a wicket in each innings. Consequently, he played just one first-class match in February 2022 and had to wait for the 2024-25 season for his next opportunity, when he played four first-class matches. Constant injuries and the tough competition for fast-bowling spots in the Punjab team made life difficult for Ashwani Kumar, with time slipping by.
Hailing from a small town called Jhanjeri near Chandigarh, Ashwani belongs to a modest background. His effort and time in cricket had to pay off.