Uncapped Indian batters Shashank Singh and Ashutosh Sharma have been IPL 2024’s sleeper hits, playing entertaining innings despite their team Punjab Kings not making it past the league stage. In an interaction with The Indian Express, moderated by Pratyush Raj, Ashutosh recalls his life as an 11-year-old moving to Indore to pursue cricket, and hitting Jasprit Bumrah for a six while Shashank talks about learning from Mumbai mates, having a hard taskmaster as a father and his sister’s geeky loyalty to his career.
Excerpts follow from Ashutosh’s interview. You can read Shashank’s interview here.
What was more satisfying, hitting Jasprit Bumrah for a six or the win against Chandrakant Pandit’s KKR?
Shashank Bhai has played a brilliant knock against KKR. It was a good win.
That six you hit off Bumrah’s bowling, sweeping him. Is that the best shot you have played in your career so far?
No no, it was a cricket shot, it was nothing special, anyone can get hit and anyone can get you out. If you hit someone for a six it is a normal thing. It is not a big thing.
Punjab Kings batter Ashutosh Sharma plays a shot during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 cricket match between Punjab Kings (PBKS) and Mumbai Indians (MI) at Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium, Mullanpur, in Mohali, Thursday, April 18, 2024. (PTI Photo)
Were you not khadoos enough for Chandrakant Pandit’s standards and why did you leave Madhya Pradesh?
There was no conversation between me and the coach. I scored 80 in the last match I played for Madhya Pradesh. Then Covid came and everything changed. Then I had to go to the Railways.
Who gives you the reality check?
My coach Amey Khurasia. I talk to him frequently. He is my problem solver as well. I talk to him before every match.
Your coach Amey Khurasia believes that you can be more destructive in the powerplay.
I was an opener when I was playing for Madhya Pradesh. I started playing as a finisher for Railways. There was no spot in the top order, I was new and the only spot available was at No 6 and 7. So I started being a finisher at Railways.
Were you given the role of finisher before the start of the season?
At the pre-season camp, we were told exactly what our role was and what the expectations were from us. When we played in the nets or in match simulations, I used to bat in the same role that I’ve been doing this season. That gave me a lot of confidence. We paid attention to the process and it helped.
Punjab Kings Ashutosh Sharma plays a shot during their match against Mumbai Indians. (Express Photo by Kamleshwar Singh)
How was it growing up in Ratlam and what role of your family in your cricket?
They were not many fans of cricket in my family, they began to take an interest when I started doing well. I came to Indore from Ratlam at 11 years old, I used to play in one club in the morning and then later do umpiring. It was a lot of struggle, I stayed alone in Indore in a room with a friend. It has been 13 years I have been staying alone in Indore. I left home at 11 and then I was part of the MPCA academy. Amey Khurusiya was my coach for five years and then I stayed alone again. I represented MPCA last in 2019 and then I joined Railways.
Md Kaif was 11 when he went to Lucknow but it was a sports hostel. Just want to understand how an 11-year-old managed everything in Indore.
There was not much scope in Ratlam. When I was 10, I got selected for MP’s U-14 camp. Me and my friend, we went to Indore together. We used to live in a room. There was a club CCI, we played there initially and then I was selected in a residential academy run by Amey sir. I started living and training there.
What was the daily routine like?
In the morning, there would be a training camp. In summer camps, we used to stand as umpires and from that money we bought lunch. In the evening, there used to be a small restaurant near our rented accommodation and we used to have dinner there. It continued for three years and then I was selected for the Academy.
Did the idea of giving up cricket ever cross your mind?
I was very young. I left home for the passion of playing cricket. I never thought that I would be playing the IPL or playing for the state. I just loved playing cricket and I left home.
IPL 2024 points table: Punjab Kings batter Ashutosh Sharma plays a shot during an IPL 2024 match. (PTI Photo)
You ever felt homesick, or missed your mother?
In the beginning, I used to miss my mother a lot. I used to cry a lot as well. But after some time it became normal.
How did two 11-year-olds manage to get a room in Indore?
My elder brother helped us get the room. It was an office. The owner was our local guardian.
You have received top-cricket training in Indore, but this giving interviews over a Zoom call, the ad shoots, be active on social media. Do you feel annoyed by off-field activities?
This is very new to me. Tough as well. I have a friend, who is helping me for now. He is taking care of everything so I am not feeling any pressure of any sort. I have told my friend to deal with off-the-field activities and I am only focusing on cricket. It is tough indeed.
When you compare yourself to foreign big hitters/finishers of other teams, do you think you can match them?
It is my first season I won’t compare myself to anyone. It is also not good to compare yourself to someone else as well. But I feel good that I have to come to this stage and do well. I am enjoying it here I want to keep performing like this. This is a big stage you play all the good bowlers when you score runs you are happy yourself. I have not compared myself to anyone else.
And that six you hit off Bumrah’s bowling, sweeping him. Is that the best shot you have played in your career so far? Did Bumrah tell you anything about that?
No no, it was a cricket shot it was nothing special anyone can get hit and anyone can get you out. If you get hit someone for a six it is a normal thing. It is not a big thing.