He’s Had A Cut Finger And Still Won The Match: DC Head Coach Lauds Ashutosh Sharma

Delhi Capitals’ hero against Lucknow Super Giants, Ashutosh Sharma, wasn’t even a sure-shot starter for their opening clash on March 24 (Monday). But as it turned out, not only did the right-hander turn up, but played a mind-boggling knock, smashing 66* off 31 balls in DC’s narrow one-wicket win. 

Prior to the match, there were major concerns over the right-hander’s participation in the game, given that he had a cut finger. However, DC’s head coach Hemang Badani revealed that the 26-year-old showed ‘Tiger Mentality’ to win the clash for his new side. 

"I have to mention about this lad. He's had a cut finger. There was a chance he could have missed out on the game. I had a chat with him, asking him two days prior to the game when he had that cut. 'How are you feeling? Will you play?'" Badani said in the dressing room chat after the game. 

At 113/6, it looked like the game was going away from DC before the right-hander joined Vipraj Nigam (15-ball 39) to turn the game around. It was only the fifth-ever one-wicket win in the history of the competition and the first in nearly two years. 

"He said quite clearly, 'I am playing the game. I want to be in the middle.' There's one thing that you speak of being in the middle, wanting to and the desire to play but to go in there, to bat the way you batted. 15 off 15 at one stage, but then he goes on to get 66 off 31. Finishing off the game in style," he added.

Delhi’s next game is against Sunrisers Hyderabad on March 30 (Sunday).