IPL 2024: Who is Ashutosh Sharma? - From Breaking Yuvraj Singh's Record To Making An Instant Impact In IPL

Punjab's latest sensation, Ashutosh Sharma, came in as an impact sub against Gujarat Titans in the IPL 2024 season as it chased a target of 200 runs in the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Ashutosh Sharma played a crucial knock of 31 runs in 17 balls in the match's dying moments, helping Punjab Kings edge past Gujarat Titans and secure its second win of the IPL 2024 season. The youngster came in to bat in the 16th over and put together a crucial partnership with Shashank Singh, contributing 43 runs in just 22 balls, helping the Punjab Kings chase down the big target. With three fours and a six, Ashutosh set the tone for his teammates to finish the game in style.

Ashutosh Sharma - Punjab's latest sensation takes IPL by storm

India's latest T20 sensation, Ashutosh Sharma made his T20 debut for Madhya Pradesh back in 2018, but he made his mark only after moving to Railways. In only his 2nd game for Railways, Ashutosh broke Yuvraj Singh's record and then went on to have a productive maiden Ranji Trophy season, scoring a hundred against Gujarat as recently as January.

"I didn't let my thoughts wander around. I thought these are situations that I have faced in Railways. I thought I would consider this chase as something similar and play. I had a lot of confidence. The confidence from winning games for my team in Syed Mushtaq Ali gave me confidence. I was telling myself, I will do it," Ashutosh said.

It was only in October that Ashutosh caught the attention of the cricketing world when he broke Yuvraj Singh's T20 record for the fastest fifty by an Indian. Ashutosh smashed a fifty off just 11 balls for Railways against Arunachal Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. It was a crucial knock for him as he ensured Punjab did not overlook him in the IPL 2024 auction that followed.

"Confidence was there because the coaches and Punjab Kings management believed in me a lot. They were backing me a lot. They told me, 'You're such a player who is capable of finishing games for us'. That confidence, I carried. I went out to the middle and applied it. I feel happy to have repaid the faith shown by the coaches," Ashutosh said during the post-match press conference.

Going into the slog overs, Punjab were in a spot of bother as their experienced India wicketkeeper, Jitesh Sharma, fell in the 16th over with the side needing 50 from 27 balls. However, Ashutosh and Shashank Singh kept their cool and delivered a much-needed victory for the away side. Ashutosh was dismissed in the first delivery of the final over, but he did his job with a sensational cameo. On the flip side, Shashank remained unbeaten on 61 from 29 balls as PBKS went past the finish line with a delivery to spare.

That chat with your mates after you play a match-winning knock 😃 👌#TATAIPL | #GTvPBKS pic.twitter.com/736es44V3b

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 4, 2024