IND vs ZIM: Who is Ashok Sharma? Farmer’s son makes India debut after 154.2 kmph IPL breakthrough | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: India’s fast bowling production line has unearthed another exciting prospect, with Rajasthan pacer Ashok Sharma making his international debut in the opening T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare on Thursday.The 24-year-old received his maiden India cap after a remarkable rise through domestic cricket and the IPL, as captain Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to field first in the opening match of the three-match series.Speaking after the toss, Iyer explained the decision to bowl first, citing the expected bounce over Harare.“We will bowl first. It’s my first time here, so I don’t know how to play the wicket. But looking at the wickets in practice, there is a decent amount of bounce,” Iyer said.India opted for a balanced attack consisting of three seamers and a specialist spinner, giving Ashok a chance to begin his international tour with fellow speedster Mayank Yadav and Prince Yadav.
- India playing XI: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Shreyas Iyer (capt), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Prince Yadav, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav.
Ashok Sharma: From a village in Rajasthan to the cap of India
Ashok’s journey to the national team is a story of perseverance and family sacrifice.Hailing from Rampura, a small village near Jaipur, Ashok grew up with limited cricketing opportunities. His father was a farmer, and the family’s financial situation meant they could only support one son to seriously pursue cricket.His elder brother, Akshay Sharma, who himself played cricket at the district level, put aside his own ambitions so that Ashok could pursue his dream.Years of hard work eventually paid off as Ashok emerged as one of India’s fastest rising pacers in the 2025-26 domestic season.
Record-breaking domestic season and IPL breakthrough
Ashok announced himself on the national stage in the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, finishing as the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 22 wickets in just 10 matches. His ability to consistently bowl hard lengths at speeds in excess of 150 kmph quickly attracted the attention of IPL franchises.Gujarat Titans secured his services for Rs 90 lakh in the IPL 2026 auction, a move that proved to be an inspired investment.Working under head coach Ashish Nehra, Ashok impressed with his raw pace and powerful bounce throughout the season. His iconic moment came against Rajasthan Royals when he clocked 154.2 kmph to claim the fastest delivery in IPL 2026, sending Dhruv Jurel thundering at the Narendra Modi Stadium.Despite playing only six matches, the right-arm pacer claimed six wickets and often troubled the batters with his express speed.
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