Kevin Pietersen with Ashutosh Sharma (Video grab)

NEW DELHI: Ashutosh Sharma is the toast of the Indian Premier League 2025 season after his stunning 66 not out off 31 balls snatched victory for Delhi Capitals from the jaws of defeat against Lucknow Super Giants in Visakhapatnam.
After the match, DC mentor and former England captain Kevin Pietersen couldn’t contain his excitement while greeting the batter, telling the ‘Man of the Match’: “I said this game is not over until Ashutosh is batting.”
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“Brilliant, Brilliant! It’s all about mindset,” Pietersen added, beaming with pride as he celebrated with the young cricketer.
Inside the DC dressing room, head coach Hemang Badani lauded Ashutosh’s ‘tiger mentality’ for choosing to play despite suffering a cut finger.
“I have to mention this lad. He had a cut finger. There was a chance he could have missed out on the game. I had a chat with him two days prior when he had that cut. ‘How are you feeling? Will you play?'” Badani said.
“He said quite clearly, ‘I am playing the game. I want to be in the middle.’ There’s one thing about wanting to play, but to go in there and bat the way he did — 15 off 15 at one stage, then finishing with 66 off 31 — that’s special.”
Sharing a video of Ashutosh greeting fans, DC wrote: “Came in as an impact player but left as the main character.”
Chasing 210, DC were struggling at 65/5, but Ashutosh’s composure guided them home with three balls to spare and just one wicket in hand.