Mumbai Indians debutant Ashwani Kumar was the star of MI's first victory in IPL 2025. The young pacer made history by becoming the first Indian to claim a four-wicket haul on his IPL debut. Reflecting on his performance, Ashwani admitted that nerves got the better of him throughout the day, even causing him to skip lunch. Speaking to the broadcasters after the first innings, the 23-year-old revealed: "I didn't have anything for lunch, I just had a banana. There was a little pressure. I wasn't feeling hungry. I played well, so it's good," he said. Ashwani had impressed the Mumbai Indians' management during their match simulations ahead of their first home game. After informing him about his debut, the MI management shared their bowling strategies but, most importantly, encouraged him to enjoy the experience. "We had plans. But captain [Hardik Pandya] said that since it's your debut match, enjoy yourself," he said. The young pacer delivered a stunning performance, dismissing Ajinkya Rahane, Rinku Singh, Manish Pandey, and Andre Russell. When he returned for his final spell, Russell initially went on to attack, hitting a boundary early in the over. Also Read: Mumbai Indians defeat KKR by 8 wickets However, Ashwani had the last laugh. He set up the explosive batter with a couple of sharp bouncers before adjusting his length to castle the stumps. "Hardik bhai had told me that he will try to attack you. He told me to bowl into his body. But the situation was such that he tried to hit me and got out," he said. 'This is a result of my hard work' Ashwani Kumar was deservedly named Player of the Match for his match-winning spell. Speaking during the post-match presentation, he credited his success to years of dedication and hard work. "It is a big thing for me that I got this opportunity and that I am getting this award. I am from Jhanjheri in Mohali district. To come from there to here, that is the result of my hard work, and by God's grace, I am here. I was confident, but I was a little nervous as well, thinking about what will happen," he said. With this victory, Mumbai Indians jumped from 10th to 6th place in the points table. However, after two losses, defending champions Kolkata Knight Riders found themselves at the bottom. Now, eight of the ten teams have one win each, while Delhi Capitals and Royal Challengers Bengaluru remain unbeaten with two wins from two matches.