It was my dream to hit a sweep shot off Jasprit Bumrah: Ashutosh Sharma

Ashutosh Sharma provided one of the most exhilarating moments of the ongoing IPL 2024 season when he swept Jasprit Bumrah for a huge six during Punjab Kings' (PBKS) run chase against Mumbai Indians (MI) on April 18. However, his heroics ultimately ended in vain as PBKS suffered their fifth season loss.

Chasing 193, the Punjab-based franchise was struggling at 77/6 in the 10th over when the 25-year-old Ashutosh walked to the crease. The required rate was 10.88 at that stage. Sharma, who has built a reputation as a six-hitting machine by clearing the ropes 43 times in just 18 T20 innings, went on a calculated assault.

His best moment came in the 13th over when he took on Bumrah, the tournament's leading wicket-taker. Playing a free hit after Bumrah overstepped, Ashutosh went low and across his off-stump to ramp a pull into the stands behind square leg. Ashutosh played a 28-ball 61which included two boundaries and seven sixes.

"It was my dream to hit a sweep shot off Jasprit Bumrah. I have been practicing these shots. It's a game of cricket so it's very common. we have to focus on our process. When I was playing I had the belief to pull off a win," Ashutosh said in a post-match presentation.

Also read: In T20 format, when the ball swings for the first two overs, you do want to make an impact: Jasprit Bumrah

Made a huge difference for me and turned my game: Ashutosh Sharma

Ashutosh credited a motivational chat with Punjab's Head of Cricket Development Sanjay Bangar for his newfound confidence. 

"Sanjay [Bangar] sir told me that, 'you're not a slogger; you play proper cricketing shots and you should focus on [honing] that'. It was that small statement and a show of confidence from him that made a huge difference for me and turned my game. I'm now just trying to follow that," Ashutosh said.

Also read: Hardik Pandya fined INR 12 lakh for slow over rate against Punjab Kings

Despite Ashutosh's late onslaught, Punjab fell nine runs short and were bundled for 183 as Bumrah and Gerald Coetzee shared six wickets between them after Suryakumar Yadav's 78 had powered Mumbai to 192/7.

After their defeat against the Hardik Pandya-led side, PBKS have slipped down to the ninth position in the points table with four points. They will face Gujarat Titans in their next fixture on April 21 at home.