Delhi Capitals’ batting sensation Ashutosh Sharma, who recently stunned cricket fans with an unbeaten 66 off just 31 balls against Lucknow Super Giants, was once deemed unfit for first-class cricket by selectors who claimed “he doesn’t know how to bat.”
The 26-year-old’s match-winning performance, which rescued DC from a precarious 65/5 to successfully chase down 210, is merely the latest chapter in a career defined by proving doubters wrong.
Railways head coach Nikhil Doru revealed the remarkable backstory behind Sharma’s emergence in an exclusive interview.
“The selectors were completely unwilling to pick him in Railways’ squad for the Ranji Trophy,” Doru explained. “They emphatically stated, ‘Ashutosh doesn’t know how to bat. He can only hit big shots.’ Despite this harsh assessment, I continued advocating for his selection, recognizing his potential as a game-changer.”
After being overlooked for several matches, Sharma finally earned his opportunity against Gujarat in January 2024 – though with an implicit ultimatum that failure would end his first-class prospects.
“The circumstances couldn’t have been more challenging,” Doru recounted. “The match was played in Valsad where conditions heavily favored bowlers, giving Gujarat a significant advantage. Adding to the complexity, there was administrative confusion with two different team sheets at the toss – one including Ashutosh and one omitting him.”
This confusion forced Railways to send bowler Karn Sharma out to bat while awaiting BCCI clearance for Ashutosh’s participation. “Those 15-20 minutes waiting for permission were nerve-wracking. If we’d lost more wickets, Ashutosh’s opportunity might have vanished entirely,” said Doru.
When finally permitted to bat with Railways struggling at 145/6, Sharma delivered a magnificent 123 off just 84 balls, featuring 12 boundaries and 8 sixes. His counterattack propelled Railways to 313, transforming what seemed like certain defeat into a commanding 184-run victory.
“Before Ashutosh walked out, I told Gujarat spinner Ravi Bishnoi that our batting had just begun,” Doru recalled. “Bishnoi laughed it off, but Ashutosh proved me right.”
This defiance of conventional expectations has become Sharma’s trademark. In October 2023, he etched his name in cricket history by scoring the fastest T20 fifty by an Indian, reaching the milestone in a mere 11 deliveries during Railways’ Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match against Arunachal Pradesh.
“What separates Ashutosh from others is his mindset,” Doru observed. “Most batters try to stabilize after losing a wicket, but Ashutosh backs himself completely and plays with freedom. After one particularly audacious innings, he told me, ‘I went for my shots because I knew you wouldn’t scold me.’ Many coaches resist players who follow their own instincts, but Ashutosh’s authentic approach yields remarkable results.”
The Delhi Capitals dynamo also employs visualization techniques to manifest his success. “Ashutosh is a big believer in visualizing positive outcomes before they happen,” Doru revealed. “He’s already told me that he has visualized winning the IPL with Delhi Capitals this season.”
With his explosive batting and unwavering self-belief, Sharma’s journey from rejection to IPL stardom serves as a powerful reminder that cricket talent comes in many forms – sometimes in packages that traditional selection committees fail to recognize.