Ashutosh Sharma, who powered Delhi Capitals to a sensational one-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants in the Indian Premier League (IPL), revealed that his focus throughout the past year had been on mastering the art of finishing matches—a strategy that paid off handsomely in Visakhapatnam on Monday.
The 26-year-old batter, who represents Railways in domestic cricket, had impressed last season while playing for Punjab Kings in a finisher’s role but admitted he wasn't entirely satisfied with his performances at the time. This year, however, he looked composed and confident, playing an unbeaten knock of 66 runs that steered Delhi Capitals out of a dire situation.
Chasing a daunting target of 210, Delhi found themselves reeling at 113 for six. But Ashutosh, coming in as an impact player, partnered effectively with Vipraaj Nigam to guide the team to a dramatic win. As per agency report, Ashutosh stated after the match that last season he had missed out on finishing a few games despite getting close and thus spent the entire year working on that specific aspect of his game.
He also praised Vipraaj Nigam for his calmness under pressure and credited him for maintaining composure in the final overs. Ashutosh dedicated his performance to his mentor, senior cricketer Shikhar Dhawan, and shared that his preparation included visualizing tense match situations and building the mindset to stay till the end.
Reflecting on his journey, Ashutosh noted that while last year was a breakthrough for him, he chose to carry forward the positives while addressing his weaknesses. His approach to domestic cricket, he said, became the foundation of his current success, as he translated those lessons into performance at the highest level in the IPL.
