GUWAHATI, March 25: Ashutosh Sharma has been hailed as the new poster boy of the Indian Premier League (IPL) after his match-winning 66 not out helped Delhi Capitals defeat Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) by 1 wickets on Monday.
His late charge helped Delhi have the last laugh even though the match see-sawed between the Capitals and the Super Giants till his final assault saw them home in the final over, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat.
Ashutosh dedicates match-winning knock to mentor Shikhar Paaji
From scoring a run-a-ball 20 to ending with 66 not out from 31 balls, the match-winning knock earned him the Player of the Match which he dedicated to former Punjab Kings skipper and India opener Shikhar Dhawan, his mentor.
“I just want to dedicate this Man of the Match award to my mentor, Shikhar paaji,” an ecstatic Ashutosh Sharma said during the post-match presentation ceremony.
Ashutosh was also seen speaking to Dhawan on video call as the latter congratulated him for his superb knock under pressure.
“He was really happy. Love you paaji,” Ashutosh was heard saying in a video shared by Delhi Capitals.
Chasing 210 for victory, Delhi Capitals were tottering at 7/3 at one stage and later found themselves, and when Ashutosh Sharma came to the crease, half of the side was back in the dugout with only 65 runs on the board.
He and Tristan Stubs then added 48 runs for the sixth wicket before the lanky South African also fell after making a 22-ball 34.
However, it was Delhi spinner Vipraj Nigam who started the initial onslaught, scoring 39 runs off 15 balls which were laced with five hits to the fence and two huge sixes.
Ashutosh later took matters under control as he blasted five four and an equal number of hits over the fence to see the Capitals home and in the process play his best knock in the IPL after showing initial sparks for Punjab Kings last season.
Ashutosh’s innings will be among Top-5 knocks of IPL 2025: Clarke
Meanwhile, accolades continue to flow in for DC’s newest sensation with former Australian captain Michael Clarke heaping praises on Ashutosh following his blitzkrieg against LSG.
“We’ll witness many unbelievable innings throughout this IPL but I promise you, by the end of the tournament, this will be in the top five,” Clarke, a Jio Hotstar expert said in the post-match show ‘Match Centre’.
Punjab Kings would regret allowing Ashutosh Sharma to leave: Kaif
Meanwhile, former India batter Mohammad Kaif hailed Ashutosh Sharma’s brilliant innings under pressure and said that Punjab Kings would regret to have allowed Ashutosh Sharma to leave.
“Punjab Kings would regret to allow Ashutosh Sharma to leave. He won matches for them last season and his best quality is that he hits straight down the ground. Delhi were 65/5 at one stage, but Ashutosh didn’t give up and won the match,” Kaif said on Star Sports after the match.
