In a thrilling encounter on March 24, 2025, the Delhi Capitals edged past the Lucknow Super Giants by just one wicket in the fourth match of the IPL 2025 at Visakhapatnam. The game was not just another fixture but a showcase of spectacular performances, notably from Ashutosh Sharma, who emerged as the hero for Delhi following a nail-biting finish.
Lucknow Super Giants, batting first after losing the toss, set a formidable target of 210 runs, scoring 209 runs for the loss of 8 wickets in their 20 overs. They began strong with openers Aiden Markram and Mitchell Marsh adding 46 runs for the first wicket. Markram contributed 15 runs from 13 balls before falling to Vipraj Nigam, caught off Mitchell Starc.
Marsh, however, was relentless. He struck 72 runs off just 36 balls, smashing six fours and six sixes, putting Lucknow firmly in front. His partnership with Nicholas Pooran was particularly destructive, yielding 87 runs from only 42 balls. Pooran, in turn, scored an explosive 75 runs off 30 balls before his dismissal saw Lucknow’s innings stabilize. David Miller chipped in with a brisk 27 runs, guiding the team to a competitive total.
On the bowling side for Delhi, Mitchell Starc stood out with three wickets for 42 runs, while Kuldeep Yadav provided support taking two wickets for just 20 runs. Despite Lucknow's early dominance, Delhi kept the wickets tumbling, reflecting their determination to chase down the target.
Chasing a daunting 210, Delhi's innings began on a tumultuous note, losing their first three wickets for just seven runs. Shardul Thakur was pivotal in this collapse, claiming two early wickets in the first over, dismissing Jake Fraser-McGurk for just 1 and Abhishek Porel for a duck. Meanwhile, Vipraj’s wicket fell shortly after, courtesy of Siddharth, leaving Delhi in deep trouble at 8/3.
However, a mid-innings recovery was led by Ashutosh Sharma, who went on to score a match-winning 66 runs off 31 balls with five fours and as many sixes. His entrance marked a turning point in the confrontational nature of the match. He partnered first with Tristan Stubbs, who made 34 runs, and later with Vipraj Nigam, who put on 39 runs from just 15 balls. Their efforts shifted the momentum back towards Delhi, supporting Ashutosh in bringing the team closer to the target.
With a tense final over approaching, Delhi required six runs to win. On the very first ball of the last over, Ashutosh faced a leg-before-wicket (LBW) appeal that went against Shardul's bowling. The next delivery saw a single taken by Mohit Sharma, whereupon Ashutosh hit a six on the third delivery, clinching the thrilling victory for Delhi by a margin of just one wicket.
This match not only highlighted Ashutosh Sharma's excellence and resilience but also exposed the thrilling uncertainty intrinsic to T20 cricket, where fortunes can shift dramatically within moments. The crowd watched in awe, especially during the last ten overs filled with speculation and surprises.
Post-match, Ashutosh's stellar performance earned him the title of Player of the Match. His efforts reminded fans of the high-stakes drama that IPL regularly serves, maintaining its status as one of the premier competitions in world cricket.
Both teams exhibited excellent skills under pressure, promising a riveting season ahead for IPL 2025. Lucknow will look back at their innings with pride but with lessons learned, especially regarding their handling of the middle and lower order against an aggressive Delhi bowling line-up. As for Delhi, they walk away with vivid affirmations of their capabilities in chasing down targets, despite being on the brink of disaster.
