DC vs LSG | Twitter in awe as Ashutosh pays tribute to mentor Pietersen after pulling off impossible chase

Gantavya Adukia

ByGantavya Adukia,SportsCafe Editor

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Sports at the elite level is often played more in the mind than on the field which is why a coach can completely change the fortunes of a player. Ashutosh Sharma certainly believes Kevin Pietersen played a big role in his progress as he honored Kevin Pietersen after sealing an improbable win.

Delhi Capitals engineered a famous win against the Lucknow Super Giants in the two teams' IPL 2025 opener in Vishakhapatnam on Monday. Chasing a stiff target of 210, the team found itself reeling at 7/3 and 65/5 at various stages. While Tristan Stubbs gave the team some impetus in the back half, his departure still left the team to hunt down 95 in under eight overs with a struggling Ashutosh Sharma at the crease and only tailenders to give him company. Yet, what followed is bound to go down into IPL folklore as the potential making of a star.

Ashutosh had managed to eke out just 20 runs off as many balls until he suddenly switched gears in the 16th over. A six and a four off Prince Yadav got his innings going, but it was 16 runs off three deliveries to cap off the 18th over that really had the team believing with Vipraj Nigam also back to the hut after a blistering cameo of 39. Ashutosh further levied pressure with another 10 runs off two balls to finish the penultimate over and Delhi suddenly required just six off the final over, albeit with a solitary wicket left. After Mohit Sharma survived a nervy moment that nearly saw him dismissed both LBW and stumped off the same delivery, the tailender scrambled a signal and Ashutosh needed no second invitation to slam Shahbaz Ahmed over his head for his fifth maximum off the night and finished on 66 off just 31 deliveries, also hitting five fours in the process.

As soon as the ball left the youngster's bat, Ashutosh was already roaring and dishing out fist pumps for fun but there was a special celebration in store. The 26-year-old, after raising both his arms aloft, ferociously pointed to the dugout and shadow played a switch hit, thus paying tribute to newly appointed DC mentor Kevin Pietersen who had pioneered the iconic shot or at the very least made it mainstream. Twitterati could not help but get emotional at the thoroughly passionate and wholesome moment.

Victory!

Kp!

What a knock!

Thriller!

True!

Mentor!

What a player!

KP !

Moment!

What a match!

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