Ashutosh Sharma Remarkable IPL Comeback: Overcoming Depression to Shine with Strike Rate Above 200
Despite consistent losses in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Punjab Kings (PBKS) have found a ray of hope in their young batting all-rounder, Aashutosh Sharma. The 25-year-old from Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh, has won the hearts of many with his performances, often leading Punjab away from the brink of defeat. Aashutosh is currently Punjab’s second-highest run-scorer this season, with Shubman Gill leading the way.
Unfortunately, due to lack of support from the other end, the team had to face defeat.
In T20 cricket, Aashutosh’s fastest fifty broke the record for the fastest fifty by an Indian.
Aashutosh made his debut for Railways in 2023. The following year, against Arunachal, he set the record for the fastest half-century by an Indian player of the 21st century. He surpassed Yuvraj’s fifty in 12 balls by scoring his fifty in just 11 balls. He scored 53 runs off 12 balls in that innings.
Aashutosh moved to Indore from Ratlam at the age of only eight to pursue a career in cricket. At the age of ten, he used to cook his own meals because he didn’t have enough money to afford food, which led him to umpiring. Aashutosh credits the coach of the MPCA academy, Amay Khurasiya, for helping him during those tough times.
He made his T20 debut in 2018 and List A debut in 2019. However, after the appointment of a new coach in Madhya Pradesh, he struggled to find a place in the team. Aashutosh mentions, “The new coach dropped me without any reason. I was just doing gym and staying in hotels. I was getting into depression.” Frustrated with the lack of opportunities in Madhya Pradesh, he decided to switch to Railways.
