NEW DELHI: Ashutosh Sharma displayed remarkable composure and unleashed his batting brilliance when it mattered most, guiding Delhi Capitals to a nail-biting last-over victory against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in their IPL 2025 opener at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.
The young batter celebrated exuberantly, swinging his bat and gesturing toward the Delhi Capitals dugout after sealing a dramatic chase.
Ashutosh’s Masterclass Turns the Game
Ashutosh was the star of the night, smashing an unbeaten 66 off just 31 balls and rescuing his team from the jaws of defeat to secure a sensational one-wicket win.
LSG’s Power-Packed Innings
Earlier, Lucknow Super Giants posted an imposing total of 209/8 in 20 overs, thanks to Mitchell Marsh’s explosive 72 off 36 balls and Nicholas Pooran’s blistering 75 off 30 balls. Despite their efforts, LSG couldn’t stop Ashutosh from scripting an unforgettable turnaround.
DC’s Rocky Start and Middle-Order Collapse
Delhi Capitals’ chase started disastrously as they stumbled to 7/3 within two overs, with Shardul Thakur and Manimaran Siddharth wreaking havoc. Jake Fraser-McGurk, Abishek Porel, and Sameer Rizvi fell cheaply, leaving DC reeling.
Captain Axar Patel (22 off 11) and Faf du Plessis (29 off 18) attempted to rebuild, but DC found themselves in deep trouble at 113/6 in the 13th over, still needing 97 runs from just 45 balls.
Ashutosh’s Game-Changing Knock
With DC on the brink of defeat, Ashutosh turned the match on its head with a display of fearless hitting and controlled aggression. Smashing five boundaries and five towering sixes, he kept Delhi in the hunt, while Vipraj Nigam provided valuable support with a blistering 39 off 15 balls, forming a crucial partnership that reignited DC’s hopes.
Sealing the Win in Style
With 18 runs required off the last two overs, Ashutosh kept his cool, maneuvering the strike and punishing loose deliveries. Despite losing Kuldeep Yadav in the penultimate over, Ashutosh remained unfazed. He finished the game in style, launching a massive straight six off the third ball of the final over, securing a memorable victory for Delhi Capitals and emerging as the undisputed hero of the night.
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