Talented PBKS batter Ashutosh Sharma stole the show with his swashbuckling knock yesterday against Mumbai Indians. However, his big-hitting show for Punjab Kings against Mumbai Indians went in vain as he failed to take the team home as they lost by 9 runs. He has scored 156 runs from just 4 matches at a strike rate of 205 as well. He scored a 28-ball 61 and helped PBKS recover from 14 for 4 while chasing 193 as well.
Speaking after his sensational knock, he said, “Sanjay sir told me ‘you are not a slogger, you can play proper cricketing shots and focus on it’. That small statement has made a huge impact. I have been following that only. I am not a hard-hitter. I play proper cricketing shots. That has changed my game. Back home, I was working with my coach Amit Khurasia. He also told me that the longer I stay in the middle, the more the chances of my team winning. Yes, I have missed getting the job done in 2 games. But, this is cricket. You have to keep working on your game.”
While Ashutosh Sharma was hitting sixes with ease, his sweep against Jasprit Bumrah made headlines. Off a free hit, he moved across the off-stump and swept a yorker from Bumrah into the deep-fine leg stands as well. He also credited Sanjay Bangar, coach Trevor Bayliss and captain Shikhar Dhawan for keeping faith in him.
“It was my dream to sweep Bumrah. I kept practising for it. But, it came against the world’s best bowler. It’s okay. It’s part of the game,” Ashutosh Sharma said. “The celebration was for Sanjay Bangar sir. I am working hard with him. He gave me a chance and kept belief in me. Our head coach Trevor Bayliss, Shikhar Dhawan, everybody believed me, so it was for them.”
He also said that the team is heading in the right direction and they are near to winning matches. He also opined on their batting woes in the game.
“We are working hard. Our intent is good. Winning and losing is part of the game. It matters how you are playing, and we are playing well as a team. If we continue in the same vein of form, we will do better and win the games,” he concluded. “It’s a part of the game. Sometimes, the opener score runs, and sometimes the middle orders do. This keeps happening. It’s a team game. We all have to do well. We have to focus on our process and not on winning and losing. If the process is correct, we will keep going in the right direction.”
