Former cricketer Ambati Rayudu praised Ashutosh Sharma’s composure, calling him “calm under pressure” after his match-winning knock for Delhi Capitals (DC).
DC looked down and out at 7 for 3 and later 65 for 5 while chasing a mammoth 210 against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Visakhapatnam. However, Ashutosh led a remarkable lower-order fightback, bringing the equation down to 22 off 12 balls and then just six off the final over. Last-man Mohit Sharma survived an LBW appeal before taking a crucial single, setting the stage for Ashutosh to smash the winning six and seal DC’s one-wicket victory—only the fifth such win in IPL history.
Faf du Plessis: “It Reminded Me of the 438 Game”
DC vice-captain Faf du Plessis compared the thrilling finish to South Africa’s iconic 438-run chase against Australia in 2006, highlighting Mohit Sharma’s crucial single.
“Unbelievable! It reminded me a bit of the 438 game when Makhaya Ntini took that crucial single towards the end,” du Plessis said. “That was probably the most important single Mohit Sharma has ever taken—beautiful forward defense, just pushing it into the gap. And what a story to get the big man (Ashutosh) back on strike to finish it off!”
The Impact Player Rule Proves Its Worth
Ashutosh walked in as DC’s Impact Player when they were struggling at 65 for 5 in the seventh over. By the 13th over, DC were 116 for 6, still needing 94 off 42 balls with just four wickets left. At that stage, ESPNcricinfo’s win predictor gave DC only a 1.56% chance of winning.
Du Plessis acknowledged the ongoing debate around the Impact Player rule but emphasized its significance in games like these.
“Many players criticize the Impact Player rule, but this is exactly why it exists—to give teams a fighting chance even when they seem down and out. I’ll probably need to drink some extra masala tea to hit the ball like these guys at the end!” he joked.
“To be honest, after losing five wickets and seeing how much the ball was gripping, I thought the chase was almost impossible. But this game is a reminder that you’re never truly out of it. The extra batter makes a huge difference.”
Ashutosh’s Heroics Under Pressure
Ashutosh and Vipraj Nigam turned the game around with a 55-run partnership in just 22 balls. Their efforts brought DC’s target down to 42 off 24 balls before Nigam departed for a blistering 39 off 15. Ashutosh remained unbeaten on 66 off 31, delivering one of the most memorable knocks in IPL history.
“As an overseas player, it’s amazing to see so many Indian players with such effortless power-hitting ability. This wasn’t an easy pitch—there was a lot happening. But the way those two boys finished the game was simply remarkable.”
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