Ashutosh Sharma’s 66 off 31 and Vipraj Nigam’s 39 off 15 seal a dramatic one-wicket win for Delhi Capitals in a thriller against Lucknow Super Giants.*
March 25, 2025: Visakhapatnam – In a high-octane IPL 2025 clash that will be remembered for its nerve-wracking finish, Ashutosh Sharma’s heroic unbeaten 66 off 31 balls propelled Delhi Capitals (DC) to a dramatic one-wicket win over Lucknow Super Giants (LSG). The victory came with just three balls to spare, chasing a daunting target of 210.
After the match, LSG skipper Rishabh Pant, visibly stunned, reflected on his team’s collapse under pressure and credited Ashutosh and debutant Vipraj Nigam for turning the match on its head.
“We felt the pressure… but it’s early in the tournament. I think the more we get the basics right, the better we’ll get,” said Pant.
“The batters gave us a strong total. We lost a bit of momentum in the middle, but I felt 209 was a good score. Credit to Ashutosh and Nigam – their partnership changed the game.”
DC were in deep trouble early, collapsing to 8/3 within the Powerplay. A brief recovery by Faf du Plessis and Axar Patel took them to 85/5, but with the asking rate climbing beyond 12, the game seemed all but lost.
That’s when Ashutosh Sharma, initially cautious at 20 off 20, unleashed carnage – blasting 46 off his next 11 deliveries. Partnering with Vipraj Nigam (39 off 15), the duo stitched a stunning counterattack, bringing DC back into the contest.
Despite a late scare when Nigam fell, Ashutosh held his nerve, sealing the win with a towering six off Shahbaz Ahmed in the final over.
Pant acknowledged that LSG, who looked set for 250 at one point thanks to Nicholas Pooran’s 75 (30) and Mitchell Marsh’s 72 (36), lost control in the death overs. DC bowlers picked up 7 wickets for just 49 runs in the last seven overs, setting the stage for the dramatic chase.
“We had our chances. If that one ball had hit the pad instead of missing it, maybe we’d have had a stumping chance. That’s cricket — sometimes it’s just luck,” Pant added.
Despite the loss, Pant remained optimistic, calling it a learning experience for LSG’s new setup.
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