After playing the best match of his short career during IPL 2024, Punjab Kings’ Ashutosh Sharma talked about his toughest phase. Ashutosh Sharma also recalled the time when he was not even allowed to set foot on the cricket field.

Ashutosh Sharma played a explosive inning of 31 runs in 17 balls in the match against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad. After being sent in to bat as an impact player in the 16th over to chase the target of 200 runs, Ashutosh Sharma along with Shashank Singh (61*) made a match-winning partnership of 43 runs.

Ashutosh Sharma was in depression because of the coach

Talking about the time between 2020-2022, Ashutosh revealed that he was uncertain about his cricket future. Because despite good and fast innings, he was dropped from the Madhya Pradesh team.

“I used to go to the gym and then go to my hotel room,” Ashutosh was quoted by PTI as saying without naming the coach. I was going into depression, no one told me what was my fault. A new coach had joined Madhya Pradesh and I was not able to understand his likes and dislikes. I had scored 90 runs from 45 balls but despite this I was dropped from the team.”

Although Ashutosh Sharma did not take anyone’s name, but according to the timeline, it is understood that Ashutosh is referring to Chandrakant Pandit, who is currently the head coach of Kolkata Knight Riders.

25-year-old Punjab Kings star young player Ashutosh further said, “I had scored three fifties in six Mushtaq Ali matches last season, yet I was not allowed to go on the field, I was very sad.”

How did Ashutosh Sharma join Punjab Kings?

Last year, Ashutosh equaled Yuvraj Singh’s record of the fastest T20 half-century in just 11 balls during the match against Arunachal Pradesh in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. This feat not only highlighted his batting talent but also brought him into the limelight, attracting the attention of Punjab Kings.

Meanwhile, the franchise’s cricket director and railway veteran Sanjay Bangar recognized Ashutosh’s potential and decided to include him in the team.