Delhi Capitals allrounder Ashutosh Sharma understands his role as a finisher very well, as he helped his side snap a three-match losing streak with a seven-wicket victory over Rajasthan Royals in an IPL match in Jaipur on Friday.
Chasing Rajasthan’s target of 226 runs, Ashutosh struck an unbeaten 25 off 15 balls to guide Delhi to a convincing win with five balls to spare.
“I enjoy being a finisher for my team. The team has trusted me to bat in these situations and I enjoy playing in these moments. I always feel that as long as I am at the crease, I can win the game for my team,” Ashutosh said at the post-match press conference.
Chasing a big target, KL Rahul and Pathum Nissanka laid a solid platform for Delhi, who stitched together a 110-run opening partnership.
“In T20 cricket nowadays, a lot depends on the opening partnership and the powerplay. Our openers played really well and because of that we were in the game throughout and could take it till the end,” Ashutosh said.
The target could have become more stiff if Delhi’s overseas pace duo of Mitchell Starc and Kyle Jamieson had not removed Rajasthan’s explosive openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi inside the first two overs.
“We wanted to get their opening partnership out early, as they have been doing well in previous matches. That was our plan and it worked, which was good for us.”
Meanwhile, Rajasthan Royals batting coach Vikram Rathour admitted that poor execution with the ball cost his side the match.
“The bowlers couldn’t execute their plans again today. 226 we felt was enough on this surface, they should have been able to defend that.
“When you are defending that kind of total it is important to have a good powerplay. We gave away lots of runs and didn’t take any wicket,” he said.
Despite the loss, Rathour found some positives in the team’s batting, especially how they recovered after losing their openers early. Captain Riyan Parag led the fight with a solid 90 off 50 balls, while Dhruv Jurel chipped in with 42.
“We were consistently getting good starts. Both our openers were doing well for us in every match. So, this was the first time that both got out early. So as a team, I think it was important how we came out of that situation and how we played.
“The way Riyan and Jurel batted at that time, the partnership they built, and the way Donovan finished it, it was really good to see,” Rathour said.
