In a thrilling IPL 2024 match between the Punjab Kings and the Mumbai Indians, uncapped batter Ashutosh Sharma’s heroic performance earned him praise from former Indian spinner Harbhajan Singh and fellow cricketers. Despite Punjab Kings’ eventual defeat, Ashutosh’s standout performance showcased his talent and resilience.
Harbhajan on Ashutosh Sharma playing style
Harbhajan Singh, speaking on his YouTube channel, likened Ashutosh’s playing style to that of India‘s Suryakumar Yadav, noting the difficulty of hitting boundaries against bowler Jasprit Bumrah as Ashutosh did. “He plays like Suryakumar Yadav, and it is not easy to hit Bumrah for boundaries the way he does. MI won the game, but Ashustosh won hearts,” Harbhajan remarked.
Ashutosh’s journey to success was marked by challenges, including being benched by a Madhya Pradesh coach, which led to a period of deep despair. Harbhajan recalled, “Ashutosh was rejected by Madhya Pradesh, he played a top knock, and it is said that he was in depression. He got a job in the Railways, and the best thing that happened was he played for them and struck a half-century in 11 balls. This is a record and it shows the potential of Ashutosh.”
During the match, Ashutosh’s performance was remarkable, particularly in the 16th over, where he smashed three towering sixes off Akash Madhwal, bringing the equation down to 27 runs in 24 balls. However, he was eventually caught off guard by a slower delivery from Gerald Coetzee in the 18th over, ending the game with a score of 61 off 28 deliveries as Punjab Kings suffered a nine-run defeat.
In the match, Mumbai Indians posted a solid total of 192-7, with Suryakumar Yadav smashing 78 runs off 53 balls. Despite a valiant effort by Ashutosh Sharma, who scored 61 runs off 28 balls for Punjab Kings, Mumbai Indians managed to defend their total and win the match by nine runs.
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