Faf du Plessis, a seasoned player for the Delhi Capitals, shared a fun thought after their recent match. He joked that he’s going to start drinking more of that flavorful masala tea because he believes it’s the key to why Ashutosh Sharma and Vipraj Nigam can hit with such power. Their batting helped the team pull off a thrilling win on Monday, when things were looking pretty rough for Delhi for most of the game.
The team, led by Axar Patel, kicked off their IPL 2025 season with a bang, despite facing some tough moments. Ashutosh came in as one of the impact players, stepping in for Mukesh Kumar, and really turned the tide with his stellar performance that helped seal the game for Delhi. After the match, Du Plessis was all praise for the impact player rule, noting how it plays a crucial role in matches, especially during times when a team seems to be on the losing end.
A lot of cricketers might complain about the impact player rule in the IPL, he said during the post-match discussion. But this is exactly why that rule exists. It’s for those moments when you think you’ve lost, and then someone comes in and changes the game. Du Plessis couldn’t help but chuckle as he added, “I’m really going to start drinking more masala tea so I can hit like those guys do toward the end of the matches.
Ashutosh and Vipraj teamed up to put together an impressive 53-run partnership off just 22 balls for the seventh wicket. Ashutosh was firing on all cylinders, especially in the 19th over, smashing a few fours. Then, Mohit Sharma had his turn at bat. He survived an LBW call, which could have turned the game, and took a single on the next ball to pass the baton back to Ashutosh.
Du Plessis reflected on that moment, saying, “It was unbelievable and reminded me of that famous game against Australia where Makhaya Ntini made an important single at the end. That’s probably the most crucial single Mohit Sharma has ever taken, just a nice push into the gap.” He continued with a smile, “What a story it was to get Ashutosh back on strike to hit that six!”
In the end, Ashutosh’s late-game heroics gave Delhi a nail-biting one-wicket victory over Lucknow, proving just how thrilling and unpredictable cricket can be. The excitement of the game showed everyone why they love this sport, and Faf’s light-hearted take on masala tea made for some memorable moments off the field too.
