Aashirwad Swain channelled the composure of MS Dhoni to guide Puri Titans to a thrilling two-wicket win over Keonjhar Miners in the Odisha T20 League – CM Trophy at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on 26 September. Chasing 141, the Titans were reeling at 113 for 8 in the 18th over, still needing 15 runs off the final six deliveries — and it was the 19-year-old from Rourkela who held his nerve to pull off one of the competition's most dramatic finishes.

A Chase Built on Dhoni's Philosophy

Swain's approach during the tense run-chase was no accident. He said he deliberately chose to take the game deep after observing that the pitch was slowing the ball down. 'I was trying to analyse the situation outside. The ball was coming a little late on the wicket, so this was on my mind that the deeper we go, the team in front of us will also panic. Most of the time, the plan was that I stay till the end,' Swain said after the match.

That strategy traces directly to the man he credits most — Mahendra Singh Dhoni. 'The last six of Mahendra Singh Dhoni in 2011 became the reason for me to pick up the sport,' Swain revealed. Dhoni's unbeaten 91 in the 2011 ODI World Cup final, sealed with a six against Sri Lanka at Wankhede Stadium, is among Indian cricket's most iconic moments — and for Swain, it was nothing short of a life-changing inspiration. 'I got inspired by him. I learnt a lot from him by watching match videos: that you have to take the game till the last over. So he has a big role. He is my inspiration,' he added.

From Rourkela to Barabati: Overcoming Limited Resources

Swain's journey to this match-winning moment was not straightforward. Growing up in Rourkela, he had little access to quality coaching infrastructure. 'There were not that many academy facilities there. So I had to struggle a lot for good coaching in my childhood,' he said. The limited options meant Swain had to be more resourceful than most in building his game.

A pivotal shift came in the off-season when he reached out to former India batter and coach Wasim Jaffer, who had previously worked with the Odisha team. After a difficult previous season, Swain messaged Jaffer directly and was invited to train in Mumbai. 'My last year didn't go that well. So as soon as I messaged him, he replied that whenever you are free, come. We planned it out and had great sessions back in Mumbai,' Swain said. 'The confidence that I got in the off-season by working with him, I feel really good right now.'

The Number on His Back and the Icons Who Shaped Him

Swain's jersey number, 19, carries its own story. Beyond cricket, the youngster is also a devoted football fan — and his number is a nod to football icon Lionel Messi. 'I'm a big Messi fan also. In the early stages, he also had the No. 19 jersey,' Swain said. It is a detail that underscores how broadly Swain draws inspiration, absorbing lessons from elite performers across sports.

Although he is yet to meet Dhoni in person, Swain said the former India captain's influence shapes how he approaches pressure situations — a quality on full display when wickets were tumbling around him at Barabati. 'I believed in myself that no matter how many runs there were in the last over, I could finish it,' he said.

A Camp Culture of Fighting to the Final Ball

Swain also credited the Puri Titans dressing room for fostering the mindset that produced Saturday's result. 'From day one, we were trying to develop this culture in our camp that all the youngsters and all the seniors, whatever the situation is, we will try to get the team out of that situation,' he said. 'We will take the match to the last. So I guess that process gave results today. I am very happy.'

With Dhoni's ice-cool approach as his template, Messi's No. 19 on his back, and Jaffer's off-season guidance sharpening his game, Swain delivered exactly when Puri Titans needed him most. Whether this finish marks a breakout moment in his young career remains to be seen, but the Odisha T20 League has found one of its most watchable stories of the season.