Delhi Capitals began their IPL 2025 campaign on a high note with a dramatic one-wicket victory over Lucknow, despite struggling for most of the game. The match saw a stunning turnaround, with Ashutosh Sharma playing a crucial role after being brought in as an impact player in place of Mukesh Kumar. His late heroics, combined with Vipraj Nigam’s contributions, helped Delhi secure the win in an extraordinary fashion.
Veteran batter Faf du Plessis was all praise for the impact player rule, highlighting how it allowed unexpected game-changers to emerge. He humorously remarked that he would start drinking more masala tea, playfully attributing Ashutosh and Vipraj’s incredible power-hitting to the traditional Indian beverage.
The duo stitched together a match-winning 53-run partnership off just 22 balls for the seventh wicket, taking Delhi over the line in an exhilarating chase. In a crucial moment, Mohit Sharma, who was on strike in the 19th over, managed to survive an LBW appeal before taking a single to bring Ashutosh back on strike.
Drawing parallels to the historic 438-run chase against Australia, Faf du Plessis compared Mohit Sharma’s single to Makhaya Ntini’s vital run in that famous game. He described it as possibly the most important single of Mohit’s career, emphasising how it set the stage for Ashutosh to finish the match with a six.
The incredible last-minute fightback by Delhi Capitals left fans in awe, proving once again how unpredictable and thrilling the IPL cricket can be.
