'Was sinking into depression': Record-breaker Ashutosh on his early struggles

There was a time when I wasnt even allowed to get a feel of the cricket ground Ashutosh Sharma said revealing the toughest phase of his cricket life a day after playing the most eventful match of his short careerThe 25yearold Railways cricketer whose 31 off 17 balls earned Punjab Kings a creditable win in a highscoring chase against Gujarat Titans in IPL 2024 was speaking about the time between 202022 when he didnt know where his career was headingHe had fallen out of favour with Indias most celebrated domestic coach Chandrakant Pandit who had then just taken over as MP head coachI would go to the gym and retire to my hotel room I was sinking into depression and no one told me what my fault was A new coach had joined Madhya Pradesh and he had strong likes and dislikes and despite scoring 90 odd in 45 balls in a trial match I was dropped from the team Ashutosh said without naming the coachThough he did no mention Pandit but it is clear he was referring to PanditAfter pacer Gourav Yadav former MP pacer and Namibias David Wiese former KKR allrounder now Ashutosh has railed against the Mumbaikars my way or high way style of coachingI had three fifties in six Mushtaq Ali games in the previous season yet I wouldnt even be allowed to go to the ground I was very depressed the angst was visible in 25yearolds voice as he spoke to reportersIt was a job offer from Railways that once again helped him get out of the hole and last year he equalled Yuvraj Singhs record of fastest T20 fifty in 11 balls against minnows Arunachal Pradesh during the Syed Mushtaq Ali TrophyAlso ReadNonchalant Narine a captainrsquos dreamIt earned him an auction bid for Punjab Kings as teams batting coach and former Railway legend Sanjay Bangar spotted himBut if there is anyone who makes Ashutosh emotional is his childhood coach Amay Khurasiya the former India lefthander who has seen him at the MPCA Academy since age of 12 Khurasiya was there even when Ashutosh was facing mental health crisisAmay sir knows me since childhood I got a lot of tips on mental health from him I speak to him before every game and even before this game I spoke with him Also inputs from Shikhar Paaji Dhawan Sanjay sir on playing proper shots instead of trying to slog helpedKhurasiya couldnt be more happier for his ward who he first saw at the Indore Academy as a 12 yearold who had come all the way from Ratlam to make a career in cricketWhen asked about how his career went downhill after Pandits outright rejection Khurasiya spoke about his philosophyYou have to empower the kid Every kid will come from a different socioeconomic background They will have different behavioural pattern As a coach it my duty to find a connect with the boy rather expect him to connect with me instantly If his attitude is a problem it is my duty to bring him around and lead him towards that Khurasiya told PTIBut he said that it is easier said than doneYou need to do extensive work on psychological aspect of the child How you want to align the boys cricketing philosophy with yours is not the boys problem It is easy to disregard disrespect and alienate the boy from system But if you have the power help try to help said Khurasiya whose batting style was ahead of its timeIt is never easy to live alone in your preteen days and Ashutosh did have his share of struggles after his parents left him in Indore to hone cricket skills as Ratlam never had the facilitiesThat time was very difficult as I had to stay away from home in Indore I had my share of struggles at times I didnt have money to buy food so I would be umpiring to ensure one meal is ensured staying in a very small accommodation I had to wash my clothes but MPCA academy helped me Amay sir helped me a lot Ashitish recalledWith agency inputs