DC’s Thrilling Chase
Ashutosh Sharma smashed an unbeaten 66 off just 31 balls as Delhi Capitals (DC) pulled off a stunning one-wicket win against Lucknow Super Giants in their IPL 2025 opener. Earlier, LSG posted 209/8 after Mitchell Marsh (72 off 36) and Nicholas Pooran (75 off 30) gave them a fiery start. However, DC’s bowlers fought back in the death overs, with Mitchell Starc (3-42) and Kuldeep Yadav (2-20) restricting the flow of runs.
Then, DC’s chase began disastrously as Shardul Thakur, playing as an injury replacement, removed Jake Fraser-McGurk and Abhishek Porel early. Soon, LSG reduced DC to 45/3 in five overs. Despite a steady partnership between Axar Patel and Faf du Plessis, DC kept losing wickets and slumped to 139/7.
Ashutosh’s Heroics Seal the Deal
At this point, Ashutosh Sharma entered as the Impact Player and changed the game. First, he attacked Ravi Bishnoi, hitting two fours and a six. Next, he targeted Prince Yadav and Shahbaz Ahmed, smashing boundaries at will. Meanwhile, Vipraj Nigam supported him brilliantly with a quick 39 off 15 balls before falling to Digvesh Rathi.
With 22 needed off 12 balls, Ashutosh hammered Bishnoi for 6, 4, 6 in the 18th over. Later, despite Kuldeep Yadav’s run-out adding pressure, Ashutosh stayed calm. He reached his fifty and then finished the game in style, launching a six to seal the win with three balls left.
In the end, Ashutosh’s fearless knock (66* off 31) proved the difference as DC clinched a thrilling victory.
Brief Scores:
LSG: 209/8 (Pooran 75, Marsh 72; Starc 3-42)
DC: 211/9 (Ashutosh 66*, Nigam 39; Rathi 2-31)
DC won by 1 wicket