An outstanding display of cricket played out during IPL 2025 when the Delhi Capitals obtained their win by fighting off a Lucknow Super Giants challenge at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium. Ashutosh Sharma’s unbelievable innings of 66 undefeated runs from just 31 balls stunned everyone, including Rishabh Pant, who led Lucknow Super Giants and acknowledged his team needed to work on the basics of the game.
A Rollercoaster Chase for DC
Delhi Capitals encountered major difficulties from the onset of their 210-run chase against Lucknow Super Giants. Faf du Plessis and Axar Patel joined two other fallen wickets early in the seventh over, while the batting line fell to 85 for 5 at that point. The run rate increased so rapidly, which made success seem totally out of reach.
Enter Ashutosh Sharma. The beginning of his innings showed moderate speed but suddenly he transitioned to an astonishing pace by hitting 46 runs from 11 swinging balls. Ashutosh combined with Nigam to implement a fearless batting approach, which led to their crucial partnership producing 39 runs in 15 balls despite Nigam being surpassed afterward. As DC needed just three more balls, Ashutosh Sharma finished his innings with a statement by clearing the rope for Shahbaz Ahmed to bring his team a remarkable one-wicket victory.
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Pant’s Honest Admission
After the heartbreaking loss, LSG captain Rishabh Pant did not shy away from addressing his team’s shortcomings. While praising his batters for setting up a competitive 209/8, he acknowledged that they let the game slip in the crucial moments.
“I think the runs were enough on the board. The batters batted really well. We may have lost momentum in the middle, but I think that was a pretty good score on this wicket. Definitely, as a team, we are looking to take positives from every match and learn from it. The more we get the basics right, the better we will get. We need to do the basics right more often,” Pant remarked.
LSG’s Batting Brilliance & Late Collapse
Earlier in the match, LSG was on course for a mammoth total, riding on the brilliance of Nicholas Pooran (75 off 30) and Mitchell Marsh (72 off 36). At one point, they looked set for 250, but DC’s bowlers clawed back, conceding just 49 runs in the last seven overs while picking up seven wickets. This late fightback played a crucial role in keeping DC’s chase within reach.
A Lesson in Basics & Pressure Handling
Pant further reflected on the pressure moments, stating, “I think they had two good partnerships between Stubbsy, Ashutosh, and Nigam. The older the ball got, the more help there was for the bowlers, but we could have done the basics better. We felt the pressure. It’s early in the tournament, and we are still settling in.”
Despite LSG’s heartbreak, the match showcased why IPL remains the most thrilling T20 league in the world. For Delhi, Ashutosh Sharma’s heroics will be remembered for years, while for Lucknow, it’s a hard lesson in finishing games—one that could shape their journey in IPL 2025.
