Harbhajan Singh praised Ashutosh Sharma of PBKS for his valiant knock against MI and also opened up about the player’s depressing past.
Ashutosh Sharma of the Punjab Kings played a valiant knock against the Mumbai Indians that brought the team close to victory. However, it was not enough to cross the line. Harbhajan Singh recently praised this debutant’s performance and showed trust in his capabilities with the bat.
“He plays like Suryakumar Yadav, and it is not easy to hit Bumrah for boundaries the way he does. MI won the game, but Ashutosh won hearts,” Harbhajan said on his YouTube channel, as quoted by NDTV.
The uncapped player, who was roped in by the Punjab Kings at the auction for Rs 20 lakh, went through several hardships in life that the ex-Indian spinner revealed. “Ashutosh was rejected by Madhya Pradesh; he played a top knock, and it is said that he was in depression. He got a job with the Railways, and the best thing that happened was that he played for them and struck a half-century in 11 balls. This is a record, and it shows the potential of the Ashutosh. Ashutosh has said it on record about the trouble that was caused by the coach,” Harbhajan added.
Ashutosh rose through the ranks of domestic cricket. After a successful 2019 season, he was unexpectedly dropped from the Madhya Pradesh team in 2020. This decision, made without explanation by a new coach, led Sharma into a period of depression. He was left isolated and was unable to practice.
However, the IPL 2024 season seems to be working for the young talent, as he bounced back and scored 156 runs in the four matches he has played for the team, maintaining an impressive strike rate of 205.26. The Ratlam-born might be seen next facing the Gujarat Titans on April 21st.
Last Updated on April 19, 2024
