Ashutosh Sharma turned a seemingly lost cause into a night of glory for Delhi Capitals (DC) against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in the fourth match of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025.
With DC crumbling at 65/5 chasing 210, Ashutosh’s unbeaten 66 off 27 balls earned DC a stunning one-wicket win as he showcased yet another finishing masterclass.
This was not just an innings to remember. It was a victory forged in the fires of adversity. Ashutosh's explosive knock that eventually flipped the script in DC's favour was the testament of his resilience that also defines his journey.
What follows are his own words, revealing a harrowing fall from grace in Madhya Pradesh, battles with depression, financial hardship and the comeback.
Ashutosh Sharma’s Struggles in Madhya Pradesh
Ashutosh started his career for Madhya Pradesh. In the 2019-20 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he was the second-highest run-scorer from his team. With 233 runs in his tally, the right-handed batter was in the form of his life.
In the last match, he smashed 84 runs off 51 balls versus Puducherry. Things only went downward from here as the arrival of a new coach, Chandrakant Pandit, who is now the head honcho of the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), led to his exclusion from the side.
"I played my last match for MP in 2019, where I scored 84 runs. Then a new coach came the next year, and for some reason, he always disliked me. I scored a 45-ball 90 in a selection match, but even then I was not selected in the SMAT squad. I went from scoring three half-centuries to just warming the benches," Ashutosh said as quoted to The Quint in an exclusive interview.
The rejection triggered a spiral into depression with sleepless nights and unanswered questions haunting him. Financially strained, he turned to umpiring for meals, surviving in isolation until Railways offered stability and a chance encounter with coach Amay Khurasiya sparked hope.
"I slipped into depression during that phase. I could not even get a peek of the field – I would just train at the gym in the morning and return to my room. I was thrown out of the set-up for no reason at all, and no one gave me any explanation either. I was fortunate that I got a job at Railways and they have always been supportive, but I would not want to revisit my last two years at Madhya Pradesh. I could not sleep. I spent my nights thinking about why they had sidelined me from the team. That made me even more depressed."
"It was a very difficult phase of my life. I had to stay all by myself at such a young age. I went through a lot of struggles. Khaane tak ke paise nahin hotey thhey (I didn’t even have the money for food). I did umpiring just so that I could buy myself meals. But fortunately, I met Amay sir at the MPCA academy, who helped me a lot. Amay sir has played an important role in my career. He is a master in batting, but it is not just about that. He has helped me a lot in my mental struggles as well. Before the IPL, he gave me confidence by saying he knew I would surely show my potential whenever I got a chance," he added.
Also read: Who is Vipraj Nigam? The DC Rising Star Who Shone Bright on IPL Debut vs LSG
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Back to Glory Days Under Amay Khurasiya’s Mentorship
Khurasiya saw Ashutosh’s potential early. At 12, his ability to dominate older bowlers displayed courage, a trait that has shone through his IPL career so far. He told Ashutosh to stay true to his natural game. Khurasiya's mantra of positivity helped the Delhi Capitals player rise above his struggles.
"My first impression of him was that he is a fearless stroke-player, who had a great fortitude for a player of his age. At just 12, he was handling 16-year-old bowlers, playing fine shots. This is a very rare trait," Khurasiya said as quoted.
"I did not want him to become a bookish cricketer. Ashutosh has a natural flair to his game, and I did not want to destroy that flair by teaching him cricketing manuals. I told him to stay positive. I said that after every dark night, a bright sun appears on the horizon," he added.
Khurasiya also highlighted a systemic issue within the Madhya Pradesh cricket with players like Kuldeep Sen and Gaurav Yadav seeking opportunities elsewhere. He called for empathetic coaching, criticizing authoritarian approaches that stifle individuality.
"A lot of talented cricketers are leaving Madhya Pradesh. Kuldeep Sen left for Tamil Nadu. Gaurav Yadav left for Puducherry. It was when Gaurav left that people started discussing about the exodus, but there have been players from the junior level who have left the state as well. I will not point fingers at any particular individual, but when talented players keep moving out, questions need to be asked. When you are successful, a lot of things get buried under the carpet."
"A player wants his coach to be a friend, not a policeman. There is no need to be an authoritarian. We need to respect cricketers who are 'differently' talented, because not everyone will be how you want them to be. Just like how a fish cannot be judged by its ability to climb a tree, you cannot judge a player based on your own specific parameters. The parameters of judgment should be whether the cricketer is a team player or not, whether he is committed or not, and whether he is sincere or not. If he is, let him have his glitches. Every player has his own way of living, you cannot simply impose your way on others," Khurasiya concluded.
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