IPL 2025: Ashwani is a lot quicker than you think, rushes you - Rickelton

Left-arm pacer Ashwani Kumar delivered a record-setting spell on his Indian Premier League (IPL) debut, earning his team Mumbai Indians (MI) a much-needed first win of the season after two consecutive defeats; and his teammate Ryan Rickelton talked about the unique aspect of the 23-year-old rookie's bowling skills that catches batters napping. Kumar's 4 for 24 in the match against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on Monday in Mumbai made it the first occasion when an Indian bowler claimed four wickets on his IPL debut. His spell triggered KKR's collapse, as the defending champions folded up for just 116.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Five-time winners MI reached the target in just 12.2 overs, with wicketkeeper-batter Rickelton leading the chase with his unbeaten 62 runs off 41 balls. Mumbai had lost to Chennai Super Kings and Gujarat Titans before Monday's victory."He (Kumar) is a lot quicker than I think people recognise at first; that's a great attribute he has and he can swing the new ball," said Rickelton while talking to the media after the match at the Wankhede Stadium."He rushes you.... a great addition obviously to the group and the wicket can suit him. Looking forward to seeing if he gets an opportunity with the new ball to see that other set of skills come through. He's a nice find for MI and really looking forward to seeing how he goes."The uncapped pacer came into the MI eleven having played just four domestic T20s before this, besides two first-class matches and four List A games. "I've played a few warm-up games with him, keeping (the wickets) to him and batting against him in the nets. He's a really nice bowler. He can swing the new ball and he executed his plan really, really well," said the South African."The group's really happy for him. But yeah, it's cool that he got an opportunity. The group is really chuffed (about) what he managed to get out of the match performance," he added.Talking about himself, the left-handed Rickelton was relieved to deliver a match-winning performance for his side. "Obviously a massive relief, in all honesty. The first two games were on tricky (and) on some tough wickets. But to get out here in Mumbai and have Spencer (Johnson) turn me inside out was quite a tough battle to get through," Rickelton said."But once I managed to get through that, it's just really pleasing to get a score. But more relief than anything and to get two points on the board is great for the team."