New Delhi, May 9: Ashutosh Sharma once again emerged as one of the few positives for Delhi Capitals during their crushing defeat to Kolkata Knight Riders on Friday (May 8), but it was Ravichandran Ashwin's sharp criticism of the Delhi management after the match that grabbed major attention.
Ashutosh scored a fighting 39 off 28 deliveries, striking three fours and three sixes, before being dismissed by Kartik Tyagi on the second ball of the final over. At a time when Delhi's batting struggled badly around him, the youngster once again showed composure against both pace and spin while trying to drag the side towards a respectable total.
The innings further strengthened the growing argument that Ashutosh deserves a fixed place in Delhi Capitals'
playing XI - a point Ravi Ashwin strongly emphasised during his post-match analysis.
Ashwin Questions Delhi Capitals' Team Decisions
Speaking on his YouTube show Ash Ki Baat, Ashwin admitted he was stunned that a player of Ashutosh Sharma's quality still did not enjoy a guaranteed place in Delhi's starting lineup.
"Until now, I am not able to believe that a player like Ashutosh Sharma is not in the starting eleven of Delhi Capitals. It just blows my head away," Ashwin said.
The former India spinner highlighted Ashutosh's maturity against spin bowling, particularly his approach against Varun Chakravarthy during the match.
"Today, he played an over against Varun Chakravarthy. The way he played at the end and built a partnership in the middle, he is showing you all signs of being a quality player of spin, a quality anchor in the middle who can take the match forward and then give you a finish," Ashwin added.
The remarks reflected growing frustration among experts and fans regarding Delhi Capitals' handling of certain players during IPL 2026.
Ashutosh Again Shows Finishing Ability
Even though Delhi Capitals suffered another batting collapse, the right-handed batter once again looked among the few batters comfortable under pressure.
When wickets continued falling around him, the right-hander attempted to stabilise the innings while also keeping the scoring rate alive. His six-hitting against spin particularly stood out on a surface where several established DC batters struggled for rhythm.
Ashwin pointed out that Ashutosh had already shown similar match-winning ability during his time with Punjab Kings.
"He was doing the same work in Punjab Kings, right? He was winning matches for them. Delhi Capitals took him from there," Ashwin said.
The former CSK spinner, who also captained Punjab Kings in the past and later represented DC, argued that Delhi had failed to provide the youngster enough continuity and backing throughout the season.
"So, I think Delhi Capitals did not give that stability to Ashutosh Sharma," he remarked.
A Bigger Reflection of DC's Struggles
Ashwin's comments also reflected a larger issue surrounding Delhi Capitals' season - instability in selection and uncertainty around roles.
Throughout IPL 2026, DC have struggled to settle on a consistent middle order despite repeated batting collapses. While KL Rahul has carried much of the scoring burden, the franchise has constantly shuffled combinations around him.
Ashutosh's performances whenever given opportunities have increasingly raised questions about why he has not been backed more consistently, especially considering Delhi's lack of reliable finishers.
Ashwin did not mince words while assessing the franchise's current situation. "And Delhi's season is over now," he said bluntly.
With Delhi slipping further in the playoff race after the defeat to KKR, those comments are likely to intensify scrutiny around the team management and selection strategy in the coming days.
Ashutosh Emerging as Future Core Player
Despite Delhi's disappointing campaign overall, Ashutosh Sharma's growth may still prove one of the franchise's biggest long-term positives.
The youngster has repeatedly shown calmness under pressure, confidence against quality spin, and the ability to finish innings aggressively.
At a time when Indian middle-order finishers remain highly valuable in T20 cricket, Ashutosh's performances have started attracting serious attention from experts across the cricketing ecosystem.
And judging by Ravi Ashwin's strong reaction, many believe Delhi Capitals may already have a potential match-winner in their squad - one they perhaps failed to fully trust this season.
