Ashutosh Sharma’s explosive knock of 66* off just 31 balls led Delhi Capitals to a thrilling one-wicket win against Lucknow Super Giants in their IPL 2025 opener at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium.
Chasing a big target of 210, DC was in deep trouble at 8/3 and later 139/7. But Ashutosh’s fearless hitting turned the game around, securing a stunning victory for his team.
Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) got off to a blazing start, thanks to Mitchell Marsh (72 off 36) and Nicholas Pooran (75 off 30). Marsh took on his fellow Aussie, Mitchell Starc, smashing 20 runs in just four balls. The duo put together a quickfire 87-run stand in just 42 balls, putting LSG in a strong position at the halfway mark.
However, Delhi Capitals’ bowlers fought back in the final overs, restricting LSG to 209/8. Starc had his moment of revenge by clean bowling Pooran, while Mukesh Kumar, Axar Patel, and Kuldeep Yadav tightened the grip. LSG struggled in the last seven overs, scoring only 49 runs and losing six wickets.
Ashutosh Sharma’s Heroics Lead DC to a Thrilling One-Wicket Win
Shardul Thakur wasn’t even supposed to be part of IPL 2025. Initially, he went unsold in the auction and was set to play county cricket for Essex. However, fate had other plans. He was roped into Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) as an injury replacement for Mohsin Khan—and he made an immediate impact.
LSG Dominate Early as DC Struggle
In his very first over, Thakur struck twice, removing Jake Fraser-McGurk and Abhishek Porel, reducing Delhi Capitals (DC) to a disastrous 8/3. Sameer Rizvi showed a glimpse of promise with a beautiful cover drive but soon fell to M Siddharth, leaving DC at a shaky 45/3 after five overs.
DC skipper Axar Patel and veteran Faf du Plessis tried to rebuild, steadying the innings and taking the score past 50. But just as things looked better, LSG’s spinners took control. Digvesh Rathi trapped Axar Patel, while Ravi Bishnoi bowled du Plessis for 38, sinking DC to 87/5.
Tristan Stubbs provided some hope, smashing two huge sixes off Siddharth. However, Siddharth had the last laugh, bowling a stunning delivery that clipped the top of the off stump, sending Stubbs back for 36. With DC at 139/7, LSG looked firmly in control.
Ashutosh Sharma Turns the Game Around
Just when it seemed all was lost, DC’s Impact Player, Ashutosh Sharma, walked in. The young batter, who had made waves with Punjab Kings last season, played another jaw-dropping knock. He took on Bishnoi first, hitting two fours and a six, before attacking Prince Yadav and Shahbaz Ahmed to shift momentum.
He found a strong partner in Vipraj Nigam, a bowler known for his lower-order hitting. Nigam, who had once smashed 27 runs in just eight balls in a domestic game, played a vital role in DC’s fightback. Together, they tore into LSG’s bowling. Ashutosh and Nigam took 20 runs off the 16th over, and though Nigam eventually fell for a quickfire 39 off 15 balls, the damage was done.
With DC needing 22 off 12 balls, Ashutosh unleashed a flurry of boundaries. He hammered Bishnoi for 6, 4, 6 in the 18th over, bringing the target down to single digits. The game took another twist when Kuldeep Yadav was run out in the 19th over, but Ashutosh remained composed. He reached his half-century and then blasted a massive six to bring DC within touching distance.
The Final Over Drama
DC needed just six runs off the final over. Mohit Sharma was on strike and missed the first ball, leading to an LSG review for LBW, but the ball was missing the stumps. He then took a single, giving the strike back to Ashutosh.
With the match on the line, Ashutosh did not hesitate—he smashed the ball into the stands, sealing a historic one-wicket win for Delhi Capitals. His fearless 66* off just 31 balls, which included five fours and five sixes, ensured DC kicked off their IPL 2025 campaign with an unforgettable victory.
Match Summary
Lucknow Super Giants: 209/8 in 20 overs
(Nicholas Pooran 75, Mitchell Marsh 72; Mitchell Starc 3/42, Kuldeep Yadav 2/20)
Delhi Capitals: 211/9 in 19.3 overs (Ashutosh Sharma 66*, Vipraj Nigam 39; Digvesh Rathi 2-31, Shardul Thakur 2-19)
Result: Delhi Capitals won by 1 wicket
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