New Delhi: When the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asked Ashok Sharma for his passport, he was overjoyed and got a visa for Ireland. He was expecting a call-up for the Ireland tour but was overlooked.“Kaafi umeed badh gayi thi, ye sab pehli baar ho raha tha (My hopes are very high because this is all happening for the first time),” Ashok told TimesofIndia.com in Bengaluru, where he is participating in the Emerging Men’s Championship.“When the management asked me to show my passport for the Ireland series, I was full of hope. But when I wasn’t picked in the squad, I knew I would get a chance because there was a lot of cricket ahead. I remain patient. “Said Sharma, who has now received his first call-up to the Indian national team for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe starting on July 23.Over the past nine months, Ashok Sharma has gone from being a star attraction at home to becoming India’s rising fast bowling star. He took 22 wickets for Rajasthan, breaking the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy record as an 11-year-old, grabbed attention with his pace in the Gujarat Titans, earned a call-up to the India A team as an injury replacement and has now made it to the senior India squad.
I never want to compromise on my pace. My focus is always on improving my bowling. If all goes well, maybe one day I can hit 160 km/h.
Ashok Sharma
The main reason for his meteoric rise has been his speed, and the 23-year-old doesn’t want to compromise on the weapons that have earned him recognition. He has already reached a speed of 154.2 km/h and he believes he can reach 160 km/h one day.“I never want to compromise on speed. My focus is always on improving my bowling. If all goes well, maybe one day I can hit 160 kmph, but I won’t think too much about it. I just want to keep getting better and become more skilled,” Sharma said.The 23-year-old pacer smiled as he recalled his first overseas tour when he flew to Sri Lanka with the India A team led by Tilak Varma. His brilliant catch in India’s must-win match against Afghanistan A instantly went viral.“mast tower. Pehli baar desh ko stands for kar raha tha, kaafi maza aaya, kaafi special tha. (It’s awesome. I’m representing India for the first time. It’s special and I really enjoy it),” he said.Ashok joined the team as Yudhvir Singh’s injury replacement and the tour turned out to be fruitful as he teamed up with the former India pacer Lakshmipati BalajiHe was the bowling coach of India A team.“It was a great experience working with Lakshmipathy Balaji sir. He didn’t try to change too many things. He suggested some improvements, especially regarding my non-bowling arm, and advised me to keep working hard. He said the rewards will come,” Sharma said.
Ashok Sharma of Gujarat Titans warms up before the start of the Indian Premier League 2026 match against Mumbai Indians at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. (Arnie photo)
Ashok has worked with many big names over the years. At Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), former India bowling coach Bharat Arun fine-tuned his bowling action and taught him how to keep fast bowlers fit. In Rajasthan Royals (RR), Shane Bond Advise him to never compromise on pace. Ashish Nehra took him under his wing at Gujarat Titans (GT) and emphasized the importance of hitting the long overs in every format.“Everyone has a similar message. They don’t try to teach too many different things. Every bowler has different strengths. Some people rely on their swing, some rely on their speed, and everyone has to play to their strengths,” he said.
Pat Cummins taught me to focus on making things better rather than trying to be someone else. If I spend too much time chasing the swing, I might not be able to throw the ball as fast.
Ashok Sharma
Among them, the dialogue that impressed him most was Pat Cummins During his tenure at KKR.“In 2022, when I was playing for Kolkata Knight Riders, Pat Cummins asked me what my biggest strength was. I said I was capable of reaching the limit. Cummins told me to focus on making myself better rather than trying to be someone else. If I spend too much time chasing the swing, I might not be able to throw the ball as fast. My idea has always been to enhance what I already do well. Maine likh rakh hai unke suggested ko (I have written down his suggestion),” said Ashok.Ashok also impressed his Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill He is able to bowl at a speed of 150 km/h and bowl a slower ball of 110 km/h with the same motion. He explained how he developed the deceptive delivery method while playing in a cash prize tournament in Jaipur.
Ashok Sharma of Gujarat Titans and teammates celebrate the wicket of Rovman Powell of Kolkata Knight Riders during the Indian Premier League 2026 match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday. (Arnie photo)
“I started playing cricket in an academy and also participated in local cash prize tournaments. At that time, I was bowling around 130-135 kmph but didn’t know how to bowl the slower pitches. I had only a cut-off ball that the batsmen could pick easily. My coach, late Vivek Yadavsuggested that I learn to play slow balls with the back of my hand. It’s not easy at first and takes a lot of practice. Later, in the semi-final of a cash prize tournament, I took six wickets, four of them through that delivery. That makes me believe it can be one of my main weapons,” he said.Although Ashok has been part of other IPL teams before, Gujarat Titans gave him a long-term opportunity and he thanked captain Gill for supporting him.“Shubman bhai has been very supportive from the beginning,” he said.
Shubman bhai has been very supportive from the beginning. He always gave me the freedom to express myself and never put pressure on me. He always leads me in the right direction.
Ashok Sharma
“He always gave me the freedom to express myself and never put pressure on me. He would tell me to play to my strengths and not try to do too much. Whenever I am in second thoughts during a match, I seek advice from him because he has a lot of experience and he always guides me in the right direction,” he added.Ashok admits his journey has only just begun, but he has already set himself a long-term goal of playing Test cricket because he believes in his ability to play long, hostile games. He will be hoping to impress the selectors with the red ball in the four-day Emerging Championship here at the Center of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru on Wednesday.
Ashok Sharma of Gujarat Titans warms up before their first match of the Indian Premier League 2026 qualifiers against Royal Challengers Bangalore at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamshala on Tuesday. (Arnie photo)
“The journey has just begun. Like every cricketer, my dream is to represent India in all formats of the game. I would definitely love to play red-ball cricket for my country. We will have a four-day red-ball tournament at the CoE starting from Wednesday. This emerging tournament will be a perfect opportunity for me to showcase my worth in the red-ball,” he said.Ashok is one of India’s exciting new generation of fast bowlers and the selectors believe he has huge potential. Harshit Rana has established himself in the world of white-ball cricket. Prince Yadav and Gunur Brar have impressed in the opportunities given to them, while Mayank Yadav returns to the Indian team after a long injury layoff.
Are you excited about Ashok Sharma representing India for the first time in T20Is?
Over 3,000 users shared their opinions today
Over 5,000 users have voted today
Over 3,000 users shared their opinions today
“Healthy competition is always important. If there is no competition, you won’t force yourself to improve. Competition motivates you to get better every day. Be it pace or wickets, it helps you grow as a cricketer,” he said.For now, Ashok’s biggest weapon remains his speed. But apart from the pace gun, the 23-year-old is also determined to become a complete fast bowler. With his India debut now within reach, he hopes the journey that begins on the dusty soil of Rampura, about 35 kilometers from Rajasthan’s capital Jaipur, will gather pace.
