Confidence was there because coaches and management believed in me: Ashutosh Sharma

Following a three-wicket win over Gujarat Titans (GT), Punjab Kings' (PBKS) batter Ashutosh Sharma opened up about the confidence he had during the game. During the chase of 200 runs, Impact Player Ashutosh scored 31 off just 17 deliveries, with three boundaries and one maximum.

Reflecting on his knock, he recalled the unwavering support of the coaching staff and PBKS management. Notably, the 25-year-old's knock was crucial in Punjab’s three-wicket win. He also stressed the significance of reciprocating the trust bestowed upon him by the management.

"Confidence was there because the coaches and Punjab Kings management believed in me a lot. They were backing me a lot. That confidence, I carried. They told me 'You're such a player who is capable of finishing games for us'. I feel happy to have repaid the faith shown by the coaches," Ashutosh said at the post-match press conference.

Also read: IPL 2024: Who is Ashutosh Sharma? Everything you need to know about Punjab Kings' big-hitting sensation

Ashutosh also praised his fellow teammate Shashank Singh for his pivotal contribution. Recalling their 43-run partnership, he mentioned about their composed demeanor, stating, "We both were very calm, we didn't panic at all."

Shashank scored an unbeaten 61 off just 29 deliveries and helped his side chase down GT's formidable target of 200 runs with a ball remaining. His knock was studded with six boundaries and four maximums. Meanwhile, for GT, Noor Ahmed claimed two wickets while Azmatullah Omarzai, Umesh Yadav, Rashid Khan, Mohit Sharma, and Darshan Nalkande each claimed one wicket.

Also read: IPL 2024 Who is Shashank Singh? Everything you need to know about Punjab Kings star

Earlier, GT posted 199 runs after being put in to bat first. Captain Shubman Gill stood out for his side, scoring an unbeaten 89 off 48 deliveries, including six fours and four sixes. Sai Sudharsan and Rahul Tewatia also made significant contributions, scoring 33 and 23* runs, respectively. Kagiso Rabada was the pick of bowlers for PBKS, finishing with figures of 2/44. Meanwhile, with this win, Punjab Kings ascended to the fifth position in the IPL 2024 points table.