IPL 2025: Ashutosh’s sensational hitting takes Delhi to victory from jaws of defeat against Lucknow

IPL 2025: Ashutosh’s sensational hitting takes Delhi to victory from jaws of defeat against Lucknow Super Giants

Delhi Capitals (DC) found a new hero in Ashutosh Sharma, who singlehandedly left Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) stunned and sealed a narrow one-wicket win for his side in the ongoing Indian Premier League on Monday.

The crowd at Visakhapatnam experienced a rollercoaster of emotions they hardly anticipated. They sat on the edge of their seats, witnessing nerve-wracking events before slowly comprehending what 26-year-old Ashutosh had achieved. His heroics helped DC complete their biggest run chase in IPL history.

From being down and out at 65/5, Ashutosh played a decisive role in a game where the momentum constantly shifted between both sides. He put on a show for cricket lovers worldwide, staying until the end, striking the winning six, and returning with a match-winning unbeaten 66 off 31 balls.

Despite fielding a depleted pace attack, the Super Giants rattled DC early in their pursuit of a daunting 210-run target. Shardul Thakur dismissed Jake Fraser-McGurk cheaply on the third ball of the second innings.

Abishek Porel sliced one straight to Nicholas Pooran on the penultimate delivery of the opening over, leaving DC struggling at 6/2. Sameer Rizvi, who had earlier dropped Pooran’s catch in the first innings, returned to the dugout for just 4 off 4 balls.

Captain Faf du Plessis and vice-captain Axar Patel attempted to rebuild DC’s innings with a quick-fire 43-run partnership. Faf found the boundary rope consistently, while Axar contributed with some flashy strokes. However, just as they started to pose a threat, Digvesh Rathi broke the partnership by dismissing Axar for 22 off 11 in the final over of the powerplay.

In the next over, LSG captain Rishabh Pant introduced leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, which paid off instantly. On the very next ball, Faf mistimed a shot high into the air, where David Miller completed an easy catch, sending him back for 29 off 18.

Tristan Stubbs and Ashutosh Sharma then took the fight to LSG, forging a valuable 48-run stand. However, LSG’s impact substitute, Manimaran Siddharth, made a crucial breakthrough, trapping Stubbs LBW for 34 with some sharp turn from the surface.

Vipraj Nigam provided a quick cameo, smashing 39 off just 15 balls, including five boundaries and two towering sixes.

With 42 runs needed from 24 balls, a strategic time-out was taken, allowing both sides to reassess their plans. On the first ball after the break, Digvesh Rathi dismissed Vipraj, adding another twist to the game.

At this stage, LSG seemed to have the match in their grasp, but Ashutosh turned the tide in DC’s favor. In the 18th over, he launched Bishnoi into the stands, followed by a boundary and another huge six to keep DC’s hopes alive.

In the penultimate over, Kuldeep Yadav was run out, adding further drama to the contest. With boundaries desperately needed, Ashutosh delivered a breathtaking onslaught. He ran for a double, guided the ball for a six well beyond the boundary, and capped off the over with a four, reducing the equation to six runs from the final six balls.

Pant entrusted Shahbaz Ahmed to finish the game. On the first ball, Pant missed a stumping opportunity but decided to review an LBW appeal, which was eventually overturned as the ball was missing the stumps.

On the next ball, Mohit Sharma gently pushed the ball for a single, bringing Ashutosh back on strike. Ashutosh then sealed the match in style with a sensational six straight down the ground, singlehandedly securing a one-wicket win for DC.

Earlier in the match, Delhi Capitals won the toss and opted to bowl on a placid surface. Aiden Markram fell early, but Mitchell Marsh and Nicholas Pooran capitalized on the conditions.

The duo tore through DC’s bowling attack, picking their spots and dispatching the ball at will, putting up an 87-run stand for the second wicket.

Just as LSG looked poised to cross the 220-run mark, Mukesh Kumar dismissed Marsh for an entertaining 72 off 36, luring him into a mistimed shot to Stubbs at long-on.

After Marsh’s dismissal, Pooran took charge and unleashed an assault on Tristan Stubbs, smashing four consecutive sixes in the 13th over, accumulating 28 runs.

Pooran appeared set to continue his belligerent knock, but in the 15th over, Mitchell Starc produced a moment of brilliance. He bowled a reverse-swinging delivery that rattled Pooran’s stumps, sending two flying into the air.

Pooran’s dismissal saw LSG lose their momentum. What once seemed like an inevitable 220-plus total suddenly looked uncertain, with the team in danger of falling short of 200.

David Miller, known for his finishing ability, stepped up at the right moment. On the final two deliveries of the last over, he smashed two powerful sixes, lifting LSG to a competitive total of 209/8.

However, despite LSG’s strong total, they could not prevent Ashutosh Sharma’s match-winning heroics, as DC pulled off one of the most thrilling chases in IPL history.