Delhi Capitals Edge Lucknow Super Giants in IPL 2025 Thriller: Ashutosh Sharma Shines in One-Wicket Victory
Visakhapatnam, March 25, 2025 – The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 delivered its first nail-biting finish as Delhi Capitals (DC) pulled off a sensational one-wicket victory against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) in Match 4 at the Dr. YS Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium. Chasing a daunting 210, DC were powered to victory by an unbeaten 66 from Ashutosh Sharma, overcoming a precarious 65/5 to seal the win with three balls to spare on March 24, 2025.
The match, steeped in narrative with Rishabh Pant facing his former team DC as LSG’s new captain, saw LSG post a formidable 209/8 in their 20 overs. However, Pant’s much-anticipated return ended in disappointment as he fell for a six-ball duck, leaving the spotlight firmly on DC’s young guns.
First Innings: LSG Set a Challenging Target
Opting to bowl after winning the toss, DC captain Axar Patel watched as LSG openers Aiden Markram (15) and Mitchell Marsh (72 off 36) laid a solid foundation with a 46-run stand. Marsh’s aggressive knock, featuring six fours and six sixes, set the tone before he fell to Mukesh Kumar in the 12th over. Nicholas Pooran then took charge, smashing 75 off 30 balls—laden with seven sixes and six fours—in an 87-run partnership with Marsh that propelled LSG to 133/1.
However, DC’s bowlers staged a remarkable comeback. Kuldeep Yadav dismissed Pant (0) and Ayush Badoni (4), finishing with figures of 2/20, while Mitchell Starc’s 3/42, including the scalps of Pooran and Shahbaz Ahmed (9), pegged LSG back. David Miller’s unbeaten 27 off 15 provided a late flourish, but LSG’s total of 209/8 felt 20-30 runs short on a batting-friendly surface.
Second Innings: Ashutosh Sharma’s Heroics
DC’s chase began disastrously, with Shardul Thakur striking twice in the first over to remove Jake Fraser-McGurk (1) and Faf du Plessis (1), leaving them at 2/2. The top order crumbled further, with Abishek Porel (14), Karun Nair (10), and Axar Patel (8) falling cheaply, reducing DC to 65/5 by the seventh over. At that stage, LSG seemed poised for victory.
Enter Ashutosh Sharma. The 20-year-old, previously with Punjab Kings, turned the game on its head with a blistering 66 not out off 31 balls, including five fours and five sixes. Supported by Tristan Stubbs (34 off 22) in a 48-run stand, and then debutant Vipraj Nigam (39 off 15) in a rapid 55-run partnership off 22 balls, Sharma kept DC in the hunt. Nigam’s cameo, with three fours and three sixes, ended in the 17th over, but Sharma’s composure shone through.
With 18 runs needed off the final two overs, Sharma expertly rotated the strike with Mohit Sharma (1 not out off 2). In the tense final over bowled by Shahbaz Ahmed, LSG captain Pant missed a stumping chance, and an LBW review went DC’s way. Ashutosh sealed the deal with a towering six down the ground off the third ball, sparking wild celebrations as DC finished at 211/9 in 19.3 overs.
Highlights
- LSG Batting Fireworks: Mitchell Marsh (72) and Nicholas Pooran (75) powered LSG to 209/8, with Pooran’s 30-ball knock the standout.
- DC’s Early Collapse: Shardul Thakur’s double strike in the first over left DC reeling at 2/2.
- Ashutosh Sharma’s Rescue Act: An unbeaten 66 off 31 balls, with key partnerships alongside Stubbs and Nigam, turned the game.
- Final Over Drama: Sharma’s six off Shahbaz Ahmed clinched the chase with three balls remaining.
Scorecard
Lucknow Super Giants: 209/8 (20 overs)
- Mitchell Marsh: 72 (36)
- Nicholas Pooran: 75 (30)
- David Miller: 27* (15)
- Mitchell Starc: 3/42 (4 overs)
- Kuldeep Yadav: 2/20 (4 overs)
Delhi Capitals: 211/9 (19.3 overs)
- Ashutosh Sharma: 66* (31)
- Vipraj Nigam: 39 (15)
- Tristan Stubbs: 34 (22)
- Shardul Thakur: 2/19 (2 overs)
- Digvesh Singh: 2/31 (4 overs)
Post-Match Reactions
Ashutosh Sharma, named Player of the Match, dedicated his award to mentor Shikhar Dhawan, saying, “I just wanted to keep calm and hit the ball cleanly. This is what I’ve worked for.” LSG skipper Pant rued missed opportunities, stating, “209 was defendable, but their partnerships took it away. We’ll learn and come back stronger.”
The victory marks a dream start for DC in IPL 2025, while LSG will look to regroup ahead of their next outing. The IPL’s early fireworks promise an exhilarating season ahead.
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