IPL 2024: During PBKS vs. MI, Ashutosh Sharma fulfills a long-standing dream with a sweep shot against Jasprit Bumrah

Mullanpur: Ashutosh Sharma dropped down on his front in the 13th over of the Punjab Kings chase to turn a yorker from Jasprit Bumrah into a full toss and smash it for a six over backward square leg. The shot became popular right away. More than anything, however, Ashutosh’s confidence in the face of pressure amazed everyone. Ultimately, the 25-year-old almost gave Mumbai Indians a fright while chasing 193, after the Punjab Kings were reeling at one point at home in Mullanpur at 14/4 and 77/6. He hit a stunning 28-ball 61. The game was lost by nine runs for the hosts.

Ashutosh, one of the uncapped Indian discoveries of the year, has been a surprise for Punjab Kings thanks to his reliable batting lower in the order. Regarding that specific stroke vs Bumrah, the right-hander said it was his “dream” to knock a sweep against the top fast bowler in the world.

“Beating Bumrah with a sweep shot was my dream.” After the game, Ashutosh told the reporters here, “I was practicing for that shot, but it came against the best bowler in the world—it’s just part of the game.” Ashutosh expressed his confidence in leading Punjab to victory. “I believed in my ability to help the team win the game,” he said.

Typically, the person who refuses to follow instructions is dubbed a slogger. However, the young player’s confidence was fostered by Sanjay Bangar, Head of Cricket Development at Punjab Kings. “Sanjay sir assured me that I could play accurate cricket shots and that I am not a slogger.

“It was a tiny message, but to me, it meant a lot. Ashutosh said, “I am just following it; I am not a hard-hitter; instead, I am playing good cricketing strokes, and that has altered my game. He said, “I was working with my coach Amay Khurasiya back home, and he had told me that your team has a better chance of winning the longer you stay on the field.”

The right-handed hitter said the celebrations were intended for his team management as he gestured towards the PBKS dugout after reaching his fifty. Ashutosh said, “That celebration was for our Sanjay (Bangar) sir. I have been working with him a lot and I keep asking him questions.”

He and the Punjab squad as a whole believed in me and gave me an opportunity. It was for all of them, he said, including our head coach Trevor Bayliss, Ashish (Tuli) paaji, and Shikhar (Dhawan) paaji, who all had faith in me. With this loss, Punjab Kings fell to ninth place in the standings and suffered their fifth straight loss in seven games.