Who is Ashutosh Sharma? The Rising Star Who Shocked Lucknow – Once Battled Depression, Now Destroys Bowlers
NEW DELHI, March 25, 2025: Ashutosh Sharma, the name that stunned fans and silenced critics with a match-winning 66 off 31 balls* against Lucknow Super Giants, is no overnight success. The Delhi Capitals batter, who turned the game upside down with his explosive hitting, once struggled with depression and rejection in his early cricketing career. Today, he is turning the tables on his opponents and becoming a name to watch in Indian cricket.
From Depression to Determination
Before dazzling in IPL 2025, Ashutosh was a part of Punjab Kings in IPL 2024, where his brief but impactful innings caught attention. However, it was his consistency in his second IPL season that has truly proven his mettle. Chasing 210 runs against LSG, Delhi found themselves reeling at 65/5, and the match looked well out of reach. But Ashutosh, with calm aggression, stitched crucial partnerships—first with Tristan Stubbs, then with Vipraj Nigam—to pull off a miraculous 1-wicket win.
What made his knock more memorable was the 5 fours and 5 towering sixes he smashed, showcasing power, precision, and poise under pressure.
Allegations Against Chandrakant Pandit
Ashutosh’s journey, however, hasn’t been smooth. In a past interview, he revealed his mental health struggles while playing domestic cricket for Madhya Pradesh. During that time, the team was coached by Chandrakant Pandit, now the head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders. Despite consistent performances, including scoring 90 off 45 balls in a trial match and three fifties in six games in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, Ashutosh was repeatedly left out of the playing XI.
Recalling that phase, Ashutosh said,
“There was a time when I wasn’t even allowed to step onto the ground. I’d just go to the gym and stay in my hotel room. I was sinking into depression and no one told me what I was doing wrong. The new coach had strong preferences and I just didn’t fit into them.”
Turning Point: Railway Job and Record-Breaking Knock
Ashutosh’s life took a positive turn when he got a job offer from Indian Railways, allowing him to focus on his game with renewed motivation. In the 2023 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he equaled Yuvraj Singh’s record by scoring a fifty off just 11 balls against Arunachal Pradesh—the joint-fastest T20 fifty in history.
Since then, there has been no looking back for Ashutosh Sharma. From battling mental health issues to becoming a match-winner in IPL 2025, his journey is a testament to resilience, grit, and the power of self-belief.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
