In an exciting game that had fans on the edge of their seats, Punjab Kings (PBKS) pulled off a thrilling win against Gujarat Titans (GT) in Match 17 of the IPL 2024, all thanks to the great play by Ashutosh Sharma and Shashank Singh.
When PBKS seemed like they were losing hope, it was two lesser-known Indian players, Ashutosh Sharma (scoring 31 runs off 17 balls) and Shashank Singh (making 61 runs off 29 balls), who turned things around and led their team to victory.
Ashutosh Sharma, who wasn’t a big name before, showed an amazing performance for PBKS in this game.
The match, held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, had the Kings chasing a big target of 200 runs. There was a time when winning looked almost impossible, but Sharma and Shashank changed the course of the game.
Who is Ashutosh Sharma?
Born in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, Ashutosh had his fair share of challenges along the way to where he is now.
Leaving his family behind at just ten years old to chase his cricket dream in Indore was tough. He faced setbacks that would have discouraged many, but he kept going. His early sacrifices laid the foundation for a story of resilience that would inspire many.
Ashutosh started making waves in professional cricket when he joined the state U16 team in 2012. Later on, he represented Madhya Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Despite playing an impressive innings of 84 runs against Pondicherry, he faced a setback in 2020 when he was unexpectedly dropped from the team. However, he didn’t give up. In 2023, he started anew with Railways and made headlines by scoring the fastest T20 fifty by an Indian. This caught the attention of selectors and fans alike.
Now, starting his IPL journey with a bang, Ashutosh proved his worth with a crucial knock of 31 runs off just 17 balls against GT. His innings, which included three fours and a six, not only brought his team back into the game but also set the stage for an exciting finish. In the end, PBKS clinched a memorable victory by three wickets.