Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) [India], — Ashutosh Sharma, the Delhi Capitals’ match-winner, dedicated his Player of the Match award to “Shikhar paaji” in a heartfelt moment after his blitz helped his team defeat the Lucknow Super Giants by a slim margin of one wicket in the current Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.

Against a strong LSG, DC discovered a new hero in the uncapped Ashutosh, who delivered a masterpiece in chasing to get his team across the finish line. The Capitals were down at 65/5 and seemed to be losing badly as they tried to reach a goal of 210 runs.

Ashutosh, who really embodied the concept of impact substitution, accepted the brunt of the criticism, revived DC’s sunk spirits, and offered supporters a fresh perspective on success. In a game when the pendulum swung in both sides’ favor, he was the deciding factor.

After being brought in as an impact replacement for Mukesh Kumar, the 26-year-old stunned cricket fans everywhere by staying till the very end, hitting the winning six, and coming back with an undefeated 66(31).

Even when every indication suggested that his efforts could fail, Ashutosh’s “belief” in himself was what kept him going till the very end.

“Even in domestic cricket, I have been concentrating on completing games because I learnt from the previous year, when I was unable to complete a few matches. After earning Player of the Match, he remarked, “I have a lot of faith in myself that if I play till the last over and the last ball, anything can happen.”

All you need to do is remain composed, have faith, and consider the shots you have practiced, which is exactly what I did today,” he said.

DC’s success was based on more than just Ashutosh’s bravery. Throughout the batting unit, there were significant collaborations and minor yet significant contributions. Vipraj Nigam, a 20-year-old rookie, had one such effect.

In Vizag, the youthful leg-break spinner caused a lot of boundary chaos, particularly as Ashutosh was still changing gears. Ashutosh had a greater chance to winning the game after his quick 39 off 15 deliveries.

“I want to start by saying that Vipraj did a great job playing. It was a successful inning. I advised him to continue striking if he was able to connect. “I simply maintained my composure and didn’t overburden myself,” he stated.

Ashutosh said his guru Shikhar paaji before rejoining his club, perhaps alluding to Shikhar Dhawan, a former Indian opener with whom he had played with at Punjab Kings during the previous season of the lucrative league.

“I just want to dedicate this man-of-the-match award to my mentor Shikhar paaji,” Ashutosh said.