Ashutosh Sharma: Playing with plastic balls to big name in IPL

Ashutosh said legends like Kevin Pietersen and Shikhar Dhawan tell him a lot of things—how calm one should be in those situations, how to keep your head clear

Hyderabad: Legends like Kevin Pietersen and Shikhar Dhawan always guide you on how to approach the game, what their attitude towards the game was, and how you can imbibe that to handle pressure situations, says Ashutosh Sharma, Delhi Capitals’ star performer in the first game against Lucknow Super Giants.

In a chat with JioStar, Ashutosh said they tell him a lot of things—how calm one should be in those situations, how to keep your head clear. “In the last match against LSG, I was talking to Kevin Pietersen. He said, ‘Just play your game. Just express yourself. Believe in yourself,” he said.

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“I felt that he trusted me so much and believed in me. So, I wanted to dedicate that celebration to him because he is a legend,” Ashutosh said. “Shikar paaji has been a mentor to me since my first TATA IPL camp during my Punjab Kings days. That’s when my journey started. After that, I worked on myself mentally with him, not just on my skills, because he always says that ‘everyone’s skills are different,” he said.

“But your mindset—how you deal with situations, how you manifest yourself—is what truly matters.’ That has helped me a lot,” Ashutosh said.

Ashutosh reflected on the moment he first thought about playing professional cricket, taking a trip down memory lane to his early days in Ratlam, Madhya Pradesh. “I used to play with plastic balls in Ratlam. That’s where it all started. A friend of mine from Ratlam took me to a club during summer camp, and that’s how my journey began. I started practicing in the nets, and then I played my first match,” he said.

“I think I hit three boundaries in that match, and that gave me a lot of confidence. That’s when I thought, ‘I should play professionally.’ That moment changed everything for me,” Ashutosh said. “I always focus on my work. The process is important for me. If you follow the process well, the results will come,” the hard-hitting batter said.

“That’s what I believe in. I don’t overthink or worry about what I need to do next. I am happy wherever I am, and whatever happens, I will be happy,” Ashutosh concluded.