Ashutosh Sharma’s remarkable unbeaten score of 66 runs off 31 deliveries propelled the Delhi Capitals to a thrilling one-wicket victory over the Lucknow Super Giants in their opening match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025. The encounter took place at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium. In pursuit of a daunting target of 210 runs, DC found themselves in a precarious position at 8 for 3 and later at 139 for 7.

6, 4, 6, 2, 6, 4, 6

However, Ashutosh’s audacious batting performance turned the tide, securing an unforgettable win for DC. This chase of 210 runs marks the highest successful target achieved by the Delhi Capitals in IPL history, and it is the first instance of surpassing a 200-run target against LSG. With 38 runs needed and 2 wickets remaining in just 15 balls, Ashutosh delivered a series of impressive boundaries, scoring 6, 4, 6, 2, 6, 4, and 6 to clinch the match for his team.

Match summary

Batting first, LSG made a strong start, led by Mitchell Marsh, who scored 72 runs off 36 balls, and Nicholas Pooran, who contributed 75 runs off 30 balls. Marsh aggressively targeted his fellow Australian, Mitchell Starc, taking 20 runs off just four balls. The pair formed a formidable partnership, amassing 87 runs in a mere 42 balls, which positioned LSG favorably at the halfway mark. Nevertheless, the DC bowlers regrouped during the death overs, limiting LSG to a total of 209 for 8. Starc avenged his earlier struggles by dismissing Pooran, while Mukesh Kumar, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav ensured that LSG could not capitalize on their explosive start. The final seven overs yielded only 49 runs, with LSG losing six wickets.

 

Ashutosh said

During the award ceremony, Ashutosh reflected on the lessons learned from the previous season, where he had missed finishing games on several occasions. He emphasized his focus on this aspect throughout the year, expressing confidence that if he remained at the crease until the last over, the outcome could be favorable. He praised Vipraj for his performance, encouraging him to continue playing aggressively and commending his composure under pressure. Ashutosh dedicated his Player of the Match award to Shikhar Dhawan.