Ashutosh Sharma's Heroics Propel Delhi Capitals to Thrilling One-Wicket Victory Over Lucknow Super Giants

In a nail-biting IPL 2025 encounter at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, Delhi Capitals (DC) secured a dramatic one-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on March 24. The match witnessed exceptional performances, with Ashutosh Sharma's unbeaten 66 off 31 balls standing out as he guided DC to a thrilling victory.

Match Summary

Lucknow Super Giants Innings: 

- Total: 209/8 in 20 overs 

- Top Performers: 

 - Mitchell Marsh: 72 runs 

 - Nicholas Pooran: 75 runs 

- Notable Bowling (DC): 

 - Kuldeep Yadav: 2 wickets 

 - Mitchell Starc: 3 wickets 

Delhi Capitals Innings: 

- Total: 211/9 in 19.3 overs 

- Top Performers: 

 - Ashutosh Sharma: 66 runs off 31 balls 

 - Vipraj Nigam: 39 runs off 15 balls 

 - Tristan Stubbs: 34 runs 

- Notable Bowling (LSG): 

 - Shardul Thakur: Early breakthroughs, reducing DC to 8/3 

Match Overview 

LSG, batting first, posted a competitive total of 209/8 in their 20 overs. Mitchell Marsh provided a solid foundation with a brisk 72, while Nicholas Pooran’s aggressive 75 ensured that LSG crossed the 200-run mark. Despite a late surge from David Miller, DC bowlers, particularly Kuldeep Yadav and Mitchell Starc, managed to keep LSG in check during the death overs.

In response, DC's chase began disastrously, losing three wickets for just 8 runs within the first two overs. Shardul Thakur was instrumental in this early collapse, claiming two wickets in his opening over. However, a counter-attacking partnership between Faf du Plessis and captain Axar Patel steadied the innings, keeping DC in the hunt.

The turning point came with Ashutosh Sharma's arrival at the crease. Known for his composure under pressure, Ashutosh played a scintillating knock, remaining unbeaten on 66 off 31 balls. His innings culminated in a six off the third ball of the final over, sealing a one-wicket victory for DC.

Key Performances 

- Ashutosh Sharma (DC): Unbeaten 66 off 31 balls; match-winning six in the final over. 

- Mitchell Marsh (LSG): Scored 72 runs; provided a solid foundation for LSG's innings. 

- Nicholas Pooran (LSG): Scored 75 runs; pivotal in setting a challenging target. 

- Kuldeep Yadav (DC): Bowling figures of 4-0-20-2; pivotal in restricting LSG's total. 

- Mitchell Starc (DC): Picked up 3 crucial wickets to limit LSG's late surge. 

- Shardul Thakur (LSG): Early breakthroughs; instrumental in reducing DC to 8/3. 

Post-Match Reactions 

DC captain Axar Patel lauded Ashutosh's innings, stating, "Ashutosh showed incredible maturity and courage under pressure. This win was a complete team effort, but his knock was the turning point." LSG skipper Rishabh Pant acknowledged the heartbreak of the loss but credited Ashutosh for his match-winning performance.

Awadh 360 plus

This victory propels Delhi Capitals up the points table, showcasing their resilience and depth. For Lucknow Super Giants, the narrow defeat underscores the need to address their death bowling strategies. Ashutosh Sharma's emergence as a dependable finisher adds a new dimension to DC's campaign in IPL 2025.