Ashutosh Sharma held his nerve, kept his cool and then set Vizag ablaze with his explosive stroke play, powering Delhi Capitals to a heart-stopping, last-over victory against Lucknow Super Giants in their IPL 2025 opener.
As the winning six sailed over the ropes, the young batter erupted in celebration — bat aloft, fists pumping, eyes locked on the Delhi Capitals dugout. It was a moment of pure ecstasy, a declaration of arrival.
The night belonged to Ashutosh, who played the knock of a lifetime, an unbeaten 66 off just 31 balls. From the edge of defeat to the brink of glory, he carried Delhi on his shoulders, delivering a breathtaking one-wicket triumph that will be etched in IPL folklore.
Who is Ashutosh Sharma?
Once an unknown name outside domestic cricket, Ashutosh has quickly become a sensation. A fearless middle-order batter, his journey began at just eight when he moved to Indore to chase his cricketing dream. His breakthrough came with the Railways team, where he honed his explosive stroke play. His performances in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy turned heads, making him a player to watch.
On Monday, the ex-Punjab Kings batter announced himself on the IPL stage with a knock to remember. Coming in as an impact substitute, Ashutosh was handed the strike in the 18th over. What followed was pure mayhem. Two sixes. A boundary. Ravi Bishnoi, usually a wily operator, was left looking bewildered.
Even as DC lost another wicket in the 19th over, Ashutosh remained unfazed. A crisp four and a towering six off Prince Yadav brought the equation down to just six needed from the final over. Then, with ice in his veins, he sent Shahbaz Ahmed into the stands, sealing a jaw-dropping win for Delhi.
From domestic standout to instant IPL hero, Ashutosh Sharma has arrived.