Ashutosh Sharma has made headlines with a destructive 66-run knock that led Delhi Capitals to a thrilling win over Lucknow Super Giants in their first IPL match.
After impressing last season, Ashutosh secured a lucrative deal with Delhi Capitals this year, and he wasted no time proving his worth. His solo effort helped Delhi chase down a daunting target, securing a dramatic victory. The 26-year-old credited his success to valuable lessons from Shikhar Dhawan, Kevin Pietersen, and MS Dhoni.
On Monday, playing at home, Delhi pulled off an incredible chase of 209 runs, winning by one wicket. Despite being 10/3 early in the innings, the team managed to chase 38 runs in the last 15 balls. Ashutosh emerged as the hero, finishing the match with three balls to spare.
Coming in as an ‘impact substitute’ at 65/5, Ashutosh completely changed the course of the game. He remained unbeaten on 66 off just 31 balls, smashing five fours and five sixes.
Even four days after the thrilling victory, the excitement hadn’t faded. In a media interaction on Friday, Ashutosh reflected on his performance, emphasizing the importance of hard work and self-belief.
“I have practiced a lot. Whenever I get free time, I spend 2-3 hours on range hitting. It has helped me immensely. Everything requires specific practice. I also work on playing wide yorkers to ensure I can handle them well,” Ashutosh shared.
“At the end of the day, how much effort you put in matters the most. There are many other factors, but when it comes to playing wide yorkers perfectly, hard work makes the difference. During that innings, I stuck to my process and focused on taking the game deep.”
Last season, Punjab Kings signed Ashutosh for just 20 lakh rupees. He made a mark with several impactful cameo innings as an ‘impact substitute.’ This year, he joined Delhi Capitals for a whopping 3.8 crore rupees.
In the first match of this season, Ashutosh had a slow start, scoring 20 runs off 20 balls. However, he exploded in the next 11 balls, smashing 46 runs. He finished the match with a six off Shahbaz Ahmed, celebrating with a ‘switch-hit’ gesture.
The celebration was dedicated to Delhi’s mentor, Kevin Pietersen. Ashutosh revealed that Pietersen’s encouraging words before he walked out to bat gave him a confidence boost.
“I was talking to KP (Pietersen) in the dugout. He kept telling me to play freely and back myself. I felt like he had faith in me, so I wanted to dedicate that celebration to him,” Ashutosh said.
“He’s a legend. When we kept losing wickets, he kept saying, ‘You can do it.’ I’m enjoying my time with him in the dugout. He helps a lot in the nets and gives valuable advice. It’s a pleasure to learn from someone of his stature.”
Ashutosh also credited his personal mentor, Shikhar Dhawan, for his growth.
“He (Dhawan) is my mentor. I have been talking to him since last year when I was with Punjab Kings. He has helped me a lot, especially with the mental aspects of the game. He often says that while every cricketer has different skills, mental toughness and confidence take you far. It has helped me tremendously. He was very happy with my performance.”
Ashutosh also mentioned a memorable conversation with MS Dhoni during a match against Chennai Super Kings last year.
“I spoke to Dhoni during the match against Chennai. I asked him what goes through his mind when he walks out to finish a game. He shared a lot with me.”
When asked what advice Dhoni gave him, Ashutosh smiled and kept it under wraps.
“It’s a secret,” he said with a grin.
