‘Everyone’s nerves got tested’ – Hardik Pandya extols Ashutosh Sharma for splendid knock

Ashutosh Sharma. (Source -IPL/BCCI)

Punjab Kings batter Ashutosh Sharma played a power-packed innings of 61 off 28, laced with two fours and seven muscular sixes, and almost won Punjab Kings their third game of the season when they hosted Mumbai Indians in Mullanpur on April 18.

Hardik Pandya, the skipper of the Mumbai Indians, lauded Ashutosh for his “unbelievable” innings and said that these types of performaces are good for his future. He also said that the edge-of-a-seat thriller against Punjab had everyone’s nerves tested. Hardik also recalled having a discussion ahead of the game about the inner characters being put to the test during the game. 

Also Read: IPL 2024: Hardik Pandya fined INR 12 lakh for slow over rate against Punjab Kings

“Unbelievable, playing the way he (Ashutosh) did and hitting the ball off the middle. (It is) great for his future. Everyone’s nerves got tested. We spoke that the characters will be checked in this game,” said Hardik at the post-match presentation.

The way the younger guys have taken the team so close is heartening: Sam Curran

The stand-in skipper of PBKS, Sam Curran, lavished praise on youngsters Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma for putting in the fight for the team after PBKS lost wickets in a bunch early on in the innings.

He even referred to the sweep over deep sqare leg by Ashutosh off MI’s spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, which was a sight to behold for him as well as the team members.

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

“We have lost a lot of wickets at the start, the way the younger guys have taken the team so close is heartening. They have incredible confidence, you see a guy like Ashutosh having the confidence to play the sweeps and the big hits against the pacers, it’s so great to watch them in action,” Curran said.