The 25-year-old Punjab Kings (PBKS) batsman Ashutosh Sharma once again played a blinder for his team in the Indian Premier League 2024 (IPL 2024) as he shined with the bat against the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 33rd match of the competition on Thursday, April 18, at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, New Chandigarh.
The Madhya Pradesh-born player has been extremely impressive with his performances in the ongoing edition of the Indian Premier League. Ashutosh Sharma has played some sensational innings while batting down the order and caught the attention of many.
In his first three innings in the Indian Premier League 2024, Ashutosh Sharma produced stunning knocks of 31, 33*, and 31 runs respectively against Sunrisers Hyderabad, Rajasthan Royals, and Mumbai Indians.
His best came in the match against the Mumbai Indians as he single-handedly changed the momentum of the game and brought his team back into the match from a losing position. He smashed 61 runs off 28 balls, with 2 fours and 7 sixes, but wasn’t able to help the team win the match as they lost by 9 runs.
Two of his sixes that caught the attention of every one were off Jasprit Bumrah and Akash Madhwal. On the 5th ball of the 13th over, Ashutosh swept a Jasprit Bumrah yorker for a sensational six while on the 4th ball of the 16th over, he smashed Akash Madhwal a reverse-scoop over short third for a six.
Watch: Ashutosh Sharma’s Sensational Sixes
Confidence & composure! ✨
Ashutosh Sharma reaches his Maiden IPL fifty and he’s kept the chase well & truly alive! 🔥
Watch the match LIVE on @StarSportsIndia and @JioCinema 💻📱 #TATAIPL | #PBKSvMI pic.twitter.com/YUIR7gn9Bu
— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) April 18, 2024
— Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka (@Hanji_CricDekho) April 18, 2024
Hardik Pandya and Sam Curran praise Ashutosh Sharma
Speaking after the match, Hardik Pandya labeled Ashutosh Sharma’s innings as unbelievable and showered rich praise on him for playing a sensational knock under pressure. Hardik Pandya said:
“Unbelievable – coming in and playing like that (Ashutosh’s knock). Almost every ball hitting the middle. Happy for him and chuffed for his future.”
Punjab Kings captain Sam Curran also lauded Ashutosh Sharma for his brilliant innings. Sam Curran was also in awe of Ashutosh playing a sweep off Jasprit Bumrah for a six. Sam Curran elaborated:
“Another incredible knock from the young guy (on Ashutosh), but another close loss. It’s very tough, you want to lose close games rather than getting absolutely thumped, but we’ve lost a lot of wickets at the start, the way the younger guys have taken the team so close is heartening (on Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma). They have incredible confidence, you see a guy like Ashutosh having the confidence to play the sweeps and the big hits against pacers, it’s so great to watch them in action”
Talking about the match, the Mumbai Indians got back to their winning ways by defeating Punjab Kings by 9 runs in an absolutely thrilling match. Jasprit Bumrah was awarded Player of the Match for once again delivering a stunning spell and playing the role of MVP in the victory of the 5-time champions in the Indian Premier League 2024.
