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Ashwani Kumari is an Indian cricketer who plays for Jharkhand and is known for hitting long sixes and fast bowling. She is regarded as one of the best all-rounders in Indian domestic cricket. She was auctioned off to the Gujarat Giants team in the Women’s Premier League (WPL).
Wiki/Biography
Ashwani Kumari was born on Monday, 25 August 1997 (age 25 years; as of 2022) in Govindpur in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, India. Her zodiac sign is Virgo. She studied at Vivek Vidyalaya, Govindpur till 10th standard and completed her schooling at Vidya Bharati Chinmaya Vidyalaya, Jamshedpur. She pursued a bachelor of commerce in Accounting and Finance from Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) from 2019 to 2022. She liked playing cricket since her childhood and used to request her mother to buy her a plastic bat and ball whenever a toy seller came into her colony. She later started playing cricket with the boys near her house at the age of 12. She decided to become a professional cricketer after she saw the Women’s World Cup in 2013. She initially trained under Coach Kajal Das in Ghorabandha, Jamshedpur and later trained at Shahid Nirmal Mahato Stadium in Jamshedpur.
Physical Appearance
Height (approx.): 5′ 9″
Weight (approx.): 55 kg
Hair Colour: Black
Eye Colour: Black
Family
She was born into a Hindu family.
Parents & Siblings
Her father’s name is Dinesh Singh, and her mother’s name is Reena Singh. She has a brother named Abhishek Singh and a sister named Khushi Singh.
Ashwani Kumari’s sister, Khushi Singh (left), and Ashwani Kumari’s mother, Reena Singh
Husband & Children
She is unmarried.
Career
She was selected for the Under-19 Jharkhand team; however, she did not play in any match. Later, she started training under State team coach Umesh who encouraged her to work on her batting. She played in the Senior Women’s T20 Championship and performed well in two matches including 84 runs off 50 balls in one match and 95 runs off 55 balls in another match. She was selected for the East Zone based on her performance. In a match against Central Zone in the Zonal tournament, she scored a quick 65 runs. She was then selected for the India D team and played in one match in which she scored 35 runs. She played many matches for Jharkhand State Cricket Association (JSCA). She played in the 2021 Challengers Trophy and scored many runs. She played for Dumka Daisies Women in the 2022 BYJU’S Jharkhand Women’s T20 Trophy. She was acquired by the Gujarat Giants team in the 2023 auction for the Women’s Premier League (WPL) for Rs35 lakhs.
Ashwani Kumari was awarded by the President of India, Draupadi Murmu, after winning Jharkhand Women’s T20 Trophy
Ashwani Kumari was sold to Delhi Capitals for Rs. 10 lakh in the 2024 Women’s Premier League auction, held in Mumbai on 9 December 2023.
Ashwani Kumari was picked by Delhi Capitals for Rs. 10 lakh in the 2024 Women’s Premier League auction
Facts/Trivia
- She is an ardent follower of the Hindu God Lord Shiva.
Ashwani Kumari during a visit to Adiyogi temple in Tamil Nadu
- She could not afford a cricket kit when she started playing cricket, and she used to borrow kits from boys to play in any tournament. Her first shoes were brought for her by her coach Umesh.
- Initially, she started as a fast bowler and gradually worked on her batting, thus becoming an all-rounder.
Ashwani Kumari bowling during a practice session
- Her favourite cricketers are former Indian women cricketers Jhulan Goswami and Mithali Raj and Australian cricketer Ellyse Perry.