‘Axar Patel must send Ashutosh Sharma to open if Delhi Capitals want IPL glory’ | Cricket News

Ashutosh Sharma (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: He came, he saw, and he conquered — that’s how Ashutosh Sharma kept fans on the edge of their seats in a nail-biting last-over finish against Lucknow Super Giants in Visakhapatnam. Coming in as an Impact Player at No. 7, Ashutosh remained calm under pressure and delivered the most defining knock of his IPL career, guiding Delhi Capitals to a thrilling one-wicket victory.
Bought by Delhi Capitals for Rs 3.8 crore in the IPL 2025 Mega Auction, Ashutosh stepped up when his team was in deep trouble — reeling at 7/3 before slipping further to 113/6. Alongside Vipraj Nigam (39 off 15 balls), they stitched a crucial 55-run stand in quick time. Despite wickets tumbling at the other end, the Railways batter held his ground and sealed the chase in style. Ashutosh remained unbeaten on 66 off just 31 balls, finishing the game with a massive six off Shahbaz Ahmed as Delhi Capitals successfully hunted down a 210-run target with three balls to spare. His explosive knock featured five fours and five sixes.

His childhood coach and former India cricketer Amay Khurasiya believes that if DC, still in pursuit of their maiden IPL title, want to turn their fortunes around, they must promote the in-form Ashutosh to open the innings.
“He has always had a lot of resilience. He can absorb pressure, something he has done in the past—not just in the IPL but in other games and in life as well. He is a determined player, always striving to improve his game. If Delhi wants to win their maiden title, they must send him to open the innings and dominate the Powerplay. He is the most difficult player to handle and stop in the Powerplay. Axar should try him. He is a nightmare for bowlers,” Khurasiya told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.

“Ashutosh can hook the ball. He can hook it off the front foot. He can pull off the front foot. And he does it against bowlers clocking 140 kmph. He can play the backfoot punch. He can cut. He has all the shots in the book. Plus, he has innovated so many others,” he said.

“He must play for India. Can you believe a batter turned the game around when his team was struggling at 113 for 6? How many players have done that? On a track where the ball was holding up, he took on Ravi Bishnoi—an India international and one of the country’s best spinners. And that too, on a challenging pitch. This guy should be playing for India in T20s. He should be a straight pick. An amazing talent. You need to identify such players early and not make them wait.

“Let me tell you something—he is not just a batter but also an outstanding fielder. Very few people know that he is also a skilled wicketkeeper and a medium pacer. He can keep wickets, he can open the innings, and he can bowl fast. Believe me, he is one of the finest wicketkeepers. He did both—keeping and bowling—while playing junior cricket for MP. He started his career as a wicketkeeper and an opening batsman. This guy needs to be nurtured. You need to take care of such talent. He is a match-winner,” he said.
Ashutosh has been a student of Khurasiya since childhood, training under the former India cricketer at his academy in Madhya Pradesh. The 26-year-old has always credited Khurasiya for his rise and for standing by him through tough times.
Hailing from Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, Ashutosh began his domestic cricket journey in 2018 with Madhya Pradesh. However, it was in 2024 that he made a bold move to T20 cricket with Railways due to lack of opportunities — a decision that turned heads and put him in the spotlight.
In October 2023, Ashutosh etched his name in the record books by breaking a 16-year-old milestone set by Yuvraj Singh — the fastest fifty by an Indian batter in T20s.
Playing for Railways against Arunachal Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he hammered a blistering half-century in just 11 balls, making headlines.

His explosive batting earned him an IPL contract with the Punjab Kings, who signed him for Rs 20 lakh. He made the most of the opportunity with his fearless stroke play and incredible finishing skills. In nine matches he scored 189 runs at a staggering strike rate of 167.
However, Punjab Kings released him ahead of the IPL 2025 Mega Auction, and Delhi Capitals wasted no time in securing the star batter.
Is this Punjab Kings’ loss, Delhi Capitals’ gain?
“There is a section of the think tank in Delhi that needs to consider this. It’s not just Punjab Kings’ loss—it’s also a big loss for MP cricket. He is a genius cricketer and with a great mind on his shoulders, and he is not playing for Madhya Pradesh. That’s sad actually. He is a very positive player, always hungry to play for India. And the best part is that he is maturing with age. He is just 26,” Khurasiya signed off.