New Delhi: In only his second season in the IPL, Ashutosh Sharma once again showcased the league's capacity to elevate lesser-known domestic players.

After facing disappointments in similar scenarios last season against Sunrisers Hyderabad and Mumbai Indians, where he scored 33 off 15 and 61 off 28 respectively, Ashutosh surpassed those performances this time. He delivered a remarkable innings of 66* off 31 balls, leading his team, Delhi Capitals, to a thrilling one-wicket victory over Lucknow Super Giants in Vizag last night.

The 26-year-old batsman first gained attention last year due to an IPL innovation—the Impact Player rule. The Punjab Kings utilized him in this role three times, and he quickly established himself as a formidable middle-order batsman.

On Monday, he was again brought in as an impact player, replacing bowler Mukesh Sharma, with DC in a precarious position at 65/5. With half of the top order already dismissed, the outcome appeared bleak.

As team mentor Kevin Pietersen spoke to the broadcasters during the innings, DC lost captain Axar Patel just as he was starting to form a partnership with Faf du Plessis. While the tense dugout observed the team struggling at 59/4, Pietersen remained composed.

“We need a partnership, but we still have batting depth. Keep an eye on the next two batters—Ashutosh, who showed promise last year, is an excellent striker of the ball. And then there’s Vipraj (Nigam). These players are exceptional hitters.”

Pietersen's faith was well-placed as Ashutosh and Vipraj combined for a vital 55-run partnership, rescuing DC from a precarious situation. At one point, Ashutosh appeared to be in trouble at 20 off 20 balls, with the required run rate exceeding 12. However, unlike the previous season, he was resolute in his determination to succeed, even if he was the last man standing.

Ashutosh reflected on the previous year during the post-match press conference, stating, "Last year was positive, but it is now behind me. I have taken the lessons learned and focused on my performance this time around. I am making a conscious effort to avoid repeating any mistakes from last year."

His dynamic batting had already garnered attention the previous year, as he scored 189 runs with an impressive strike rate of 167.25. He first attracted the notice of Indian scouts during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where he achieved a remarkable 50 runs off just 11 balls, marking the fastest such feat by an Indian in T20 cricket.

Ashutosh attributes his development to the dedication he demonstrated while playing for Railways in the domestic circuit. In this year's Vijay Hazare Trophy, he accumulated 241 runs across seven matches, averaging 34.42 with a strike rate of 145.18. In the SMAT, he scored 164 runs at an average of 82, with a strike rate of 167.34.

"I was confident that if I batted until the end, I could lead us to victory. I remained composed because I have encountered similar situations before, and I play in the same role," he explained.

Discussions with Ashutosh often revolve around a single term—ability. He frequently emphasizes this concept, and his recent performances clearly illustrate its significance. He expressed that he never felt the game was slipping away, as his confidence in his abilities remained unwavering.

"I focus on the present and have faith in my abilities. This is the source of my confidence, making it easier for me to close out games."

"I was simply adhering to the process—taking the game deep so that I could capitalize during the final overs and bat until the 20th."

After spending the entire year envisioning match-winning scenarios, Ashutosh realized that vision by hitting a six off Shahbaz Ahmed, clinching what appeared to be an unlikely victory for DC.

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