Ashutosh Sharma was dreaming of the day he would run across the finish line for a year, and on Monday evening, he brought the dream to life with an incredible match-winning innings for Delhi Capitals against Lucknow Super Giants in Visakhapatnam.
The 26-year-old, who plays for Railways in domestic cricket, had provided hints of his finishing skills during the last IPL season when he played for Punjab Kings. Yet, he departed unsatisfied, as he couldn't live up to his own expectations.
Then, in the first few days of IPL 2025, Ashutosh made a thunderous unbeaten 66 from 41 deliveries to save Delhi Capitals from a volatile 113 for six in pursuit of an imposing 210-run target.
Acknowledging the crucial support from IPL debutant Vipraj Nigam, Ashutosh credited their partnership for turning the game around. The Impact Player rule, which allowed him to step in and play a defining role, proved to be a game-changer.
His innings became dramatic after a cautious beginning, making 20 runs from his first 20 balls before erupting with 46 runs from the next 11 balls. He finished the game in style, hitting a six straight over the bowler's head, with the majority of his five sixes being hit in the 'V' down the ground.
"I missed the chance to close games a few times last season. The entire season, I had concentrated and visualized this moment. I believed that if I played till the final over, anything can happen."
"Full marks to Vipraj. I advised him to keep going. He remained unperturbed in adversity. I wish to dedicate this award to my mentor, Shikhar (Dhawan) paaji,"
Ashutosh commented after the game.
Even after his heroics with Punjab Kings in the previous season, the franchise let him go ahead of the auction. Having known that previous performances would not be sufficient to secure his spot in Indian cricket circles, Ashutosh set about polishing his game.
*"Last year was good, but for me, that's the past. I took the positives, worked on my weaknesses, and implemented everything I learned in domestic cricket."*
With the pursuit narrowing to the last over, a No. 11 batter on strike and six runs to be scored, there could have been nervousness. But Ashutosh was unperturbed.
"I was sure. Either it was an appeal or a run out, it was not part of my batting. I was aware that if he scored a single, I could complete it with a six. I trusted my capability."
And finish it he did, sending out Shahbaz Ahmed for a maximum to get Delhi Capitals a famous victory. With match-winning contribution in Delhi Capitals' first match, Ashutosh Sharma has set high standards for himself this season.
Read also| Lucknow Super Giants Appoint Shardul Thakur as Replacement for Injured Mohsin Khan
