Ashutosh Sharma delivered one of the most unforgettable performances in Indian Premier League (IPL) history, leading the Delhi Capitals to a stunning victory over the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) on Monday. Chasing a target of 210, Delhi found themselves in a tough spot at 65/5, but Ashutosh stepped up, scoring 66 runs off just 31 balls, guiding his team to victory with one wicket remaining and three balls to go.

Fans are buzzing about Ashutosh's incredible feat in the 18th IPL season. Amidst all the excitement, Railways head coach Nikhil Doru shared insights about Ashutosh's Ranji Trophy debut against Gujarat in January 2024.

Doru revealed that the selectors were hesitant to include Ashutosh in the squad, claiming, "he doesn't know how to bat." He commended Ashutosh's mental toughness and determination, as he proved the doubters wrong.

In his debut match, Ashutosh scored a century, pulling his team out of a tough situation and marking his entry into red-ball cricket.

"The selectors were completely against including him in the Railways' Ranji Trophy squad. They insisted, 'Ashutosh doesn't know how to bat. He can only hit big shots.' I kept advocating for his selection, emphasizing his potential as a game-changer," Doru told TimesofIndia.com.

Initially, Ashutosh was left out of the squad for the first few matches. However, he eventually got his chance against Gujarat, fully aware that a poor performance would likely lead to his exclusion, as the selectors remained skeptical of his abilities," he added.

The chances were not in Ashutosh's favor

The Railways coach shared insights on the challenges faced by the 26-year-old player, who looks up to Shikhar Dhawan as a mentor. Nikhil Doru also recounted the series of blunders that occurred during the Ranji Trophy match.

"The situation was tough for Ashutosh since the game was held in Valsad, where the conditions favored bowlers, giving Gujarat an advantage. There was also some confusion regarding our team lineup, as two different sheets were presented at the toss—one listed Ashutosh, while the other did not. Because of this mix-up, I had to send out bowler Karn Sharma to bat before Ashutosh when we were at 135/5 in our first innings, as we needed to get the BCCI's approval for Ashutosh to play," he explained.

"It took about 15-20 minutes to get that permission, and I was really anxious during that time, worrying that Ashutosh wouldn’t have much to contribute if we lost another wicket. Before he went out to bat, I joked with Gujarat spinner Ravi Bishnoi, saying our batting was just getting started. He laughed and replied, 'What are you talking about?'. Despite being surrounded by bowlers, Ashutosh managed to score 313 runs, hitting 123 off just 84 balls, including 12 fours and eight sixes. This really lifted our spirits since we thought we might get bowled out for 200. In the end, we won the match by 184 runs," he added.

Not many are aware that Ashutosh Sharma holds the record for the fastest fifty by an Indian in T20 cricket, achieving a half-century in just 11 balls during the Railways' Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Arunachal Pradesh in October 2023.

"Ashutosh strongly believes in visualization. He concentrates on picturing success and glory, then works hard to make it happen. He mentioned to me that he has visualized winning the IPL with DC this season," the coach said.

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