IPL 2025: Ashutosh Sharma of the Delhi Capitals stole the spotlight in the IPL 2025 encounter against the Lucknow Super Giants. With an unbeaten 66 runs off 31 balls, he gave Delhi an exciting one-wicket victory. Ashutosh’s path to success hasn't been simple, though, as he encountered several obstacles and disappointments during his cricket career.
Ashutosh spoke about his struggles in a podcast with Shubhankar Mishra, saying that at one point in his life, he struggled with depression as a result of career setbacks. He secluded himself in his room, frustrated that despite his good performance, he was not given any chances.
“People have likes and dislikes in life. And I couldn’t ask the reason for that, because I just know how to play cricket. Then I didn’t get to play any cricket till one year. So, my depression kept on increasing,” Ashutosh said.
Ashutosh later turned to emotional turmoil after blaming his ex-coach, Chandrakant Pandit, for his expulsion from the Madhya Pradesh team.
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“I lived alone in Indore, my family stays in Ratlam, I couldn’t sleep in the night. People thought that my cricket is finished but on wardrobe it was written ‘I am doing my comeback stronger.’”
Chandrakant Pandit, the former coach of Madhya Pradesh, and now coach of Kolkata Knight Riders, was accused of bias by Ashutosh and asserted that Pandit never gave him a fair shot and only chose players who fit his preferences.
There was a time when I wasn't even allowed to get a feel of the cricket ground," Ashutosh had said to PTI in 2024, after smashing 31 off 17 balls to help Punjab Kings beat Gujarat Titans.
"I would go to the gym and retire to my hotel room. I was sinking into depression and no one told me what my fault was. A new coach had joined Madhya Pradesh and he had strong likes and dislikes and despite scoring 90 odd in 45 balls in a trial match, I was dropped from the team," Ashutosh had said without naming the coach.
"I had three fifties in six Mushtaq Ali games in the previous season yet I wouldn't even be allowed to go to the ground. I was very depressed," Ashutosh had said.
In the 2024 Indian Premier League, Ashutosh played for the Punjab Kings and dazzled everyone with his blazing batting. His performances attracted attention despite the lack of opportunity.
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Last year, Punjab Kings defeated Kolkata Knight Riders by chasing down 262 with eight balls remaining in the most successful chase in T20 history, in an incredibly brutal batting outburst.
Recalling that match with a smile on his face, Ashutosh said that he regretted that his batting didn’t come in the match even though he was padded up waiting for his turn.
About his troubled past, Ashutosh continued that he felt lost and without hope after being sidelined without reason despite his steady performances.
Ashutosh credited Railways for not only giving him a job but also a chance to play cricket regularly.
“My journey started from a match against Tamil Nadu, we were 140/7 and I walked in as a tailender and I smashed a hundred in 30 minutes. They didn’t come to know what hit them after my 60-ball 100. Last year in the senior team selection, I hit a 200 off 61 balls in T20,” Ashutosh recalled.
With a game-winning innings for the Delhi Capitals in IPL 2025, he has once again made a significant impression and demonstrated his talent on a bigger stage.
Ashutosh has become a rising star in the IPL despite the difficulties in his early career. He has surmounted his obstacles thanks to his tenacity and resolve, and his most recent results indicate that he has a promising future in Indian cricket.
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