‘I can touch 160 kph one day’: Ashok Sharma wants to bamboozle batters with pace | Exclusive | Cricket News
NEW DELHI: Ashok Sharma was over the moon when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) asked for his passport and he got the 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 were really high because all this was happening for the first time),” Ashok tells TimesofIndia.com from Bengaluru, where he is playing in the Emerging Men’s tournament.“When the management asked for my passport for the Ireland series, I was hopeful. But when I was not picked in the squad, I knew I would get my chance because there was so much cricket coming up. I remained patient,” says Sharma, who has now earned his maiden India call-up for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, starting on July 23.In the last nine months, Ashok Sharma has gone from a domestic pace sensation to India’s newest fast-bowling prospect. He shattered an 11-year-old Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy record with 22 wickets for Rajasthan, turned heads with his express pace for Gujarat Titans, earned an India A call-up as an injury replacement, and has now broken into the senior Indian team.
I never want to compromise on my pace. My focus is always on improving my bowling. If everything goes well, maybe I can touch 160 kph one day.
Ashok Sharma
The main reason behind his rapid rise has been his pace, and the 23-year-old does not want to compromise on the weapon that has earned him recognition. Having already clocked 154.2 kph, he believes he can touch 160 kph one day.“I never want to compromise on my pace. My focus is always on improving my bowling. If everything goes well, maybe I can touch 160 kph one day, but I don’t think too much about that. I just want to keep getting better and become more skilful,” says Sharma.The 23-year-old pacer laughs while reminiscing about his maiden overseas trip, when he flew to Sri Lanka with the Tilak Varma-led India A team. A reel of his stunning catch during India’s must-win match against Afghanistan A went viral.“Mast tha. Pehli baar desh ko represent kar raha tha, kaafi maza aaya, kaafi special tha. (It was great. I was representing India for the first time. It was very special and I really enjoyed it),” he says.Ashok joined the team as an injury replacement for Yudhvir Singh, and the tour proved fruitful as he got to work with former India pacer Lakshmipathy Balaji, who was the bowling coach of the India A team.“It was a great experience working with Lakshmipathy Balaji sir. He didn’t try to change too many things. He suggested a few improvements, especially regarding my non-bowling arm, and advised me to keep working hard. He said the rewards would come,” says Sharma.
Gujarat Titans’ Ashok Sharma during a warm-up session before the start of the Indian Premier League 2026 match against Mumbai Indians at Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad on Sunday. (ANI Photo)
Over the years, Ashok has worked with several big names. At Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), former India bowling coach Bharat Arun fine-tuned his bowling action and taught him what it takes to stay fit as a fast bowler. At Rajasthan Royals (RR), Shane Bond advised him never to compromise on his pace. At Gujarat Titans (GT), Ashish Nehra took him under his wing and stressed the importance of hitting the hard length in every format.“Everyone has a similar message. They don’t try to teach too many different things. Every bowler has different strengths. Someone relies on swing, someone on pace, and everyone has to work on their strengths,” he says.
Pat Cummins told me to focus on making that even better instead of trying to become someone else. If I spend too much time chasing swing, I may not be able to bowl as fast.
Ashok Sharma
Among them all, the one conversation that has stayed with him was with Pat Cummins during his time at KKR.“When I was with Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022, Pat Cummins asked me what my biggest strength was. I said my ability to hit the hard length. Cummins told me to focus on making that even better instead of trying to become someone else. If I spend too much time chasing swing, I may not be able to bowl as fast. The idea has always been to strengthen what I already do well. Maine likh rakha hai unke advices ko (I have written down his advice),” says Ashok.Ashok has also impressed his Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill with his ability to bowl at 150 kph and deliver a 110 kph slower ball with the same action. He explains how he developed the deceptive delivery while playing cash-prize tournaments in Jaipur.
Gujarat Titans’ Ashok Sharma and teammate celebrates the wicket of Kolkata Knight Riders’ Rovman Powell during their Indian Premier League 2026 match at Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad on Friday. (ANI Photo)
“I started my cricket at an academy and also played local cash-prize tournaments. At that time, I used to bowl around 130-135 kph but didn’t know how to bowl slower deliveries. I only had an off-cutter, which batters could pick easily. My coach, the late Vivek Yadav, suggested I learn the back-of-the-hand slower ball. It wasn’t easy at first and took a lot of practice. Later, in a cash-prize tournament semifinal, I took six wickets, including four with that delivery. That gave me confidence that it could become one of my main weapons,” he says.Although Ashok had been part of other IPL franchises before, Gujarat Titans gave him an extended run, and he credits captain Gill for backing him.“Shubman bhai was very supportive right from the start,” he says.
Shubman bhai was very supportive right from the start. He always gave me the freedom to express myself and never put me under pressure. He always guided me in the right direction.
Ashok Sharma
“He always gave me the freedom to express myself and never put me under pressure. He would tell me to back my strengths and not try to do too much. Whenever I was in two minds during a match, I would ask him for advice because he has a lot of experience, and he always guided me in the right direction,” he adds.Ashok admits his journey has just begun, but he has already set a long-term goal for himself: to play Test cricket because he believes he has the ability to bowl long, hostile spells. In the four-day Emerging tournament, which starts on Wednesday at the Centre of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru, he hopes to impress the selectors with the red ball.
Gujarat Titans’ Ashok Sharma during a warm-up session before the Indian Premier League 2026 Qualifier 1 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, in Dharamsala on Tuesday. (ANI Photo)
“The journey has just begun. Like every cricketer, it is my dream to represent India in all formats. I would definitely love to play red-ball cricket for my country. From Wednesday, we have a four-day red-ball match at the CoE. This Emerging tournament will be a great opportunity for me to show my worth with the red ball,” he says.Ashok is among India’s exciting new crop of fast bowlers, whom the selectors believe have immense potential. Harshit Rana has already established himself in white-ball cricket. Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar have impressed in the opportunities they have received, while Mayank Yadav has returned to the Indian team after a lengthy injury layoff.
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“Healthy competition is always important. If there is no competition, you won’t push yourself to improve. Competition motivates you to become better every day. Be it speed or wickets, it helps you grow as a cricketer,” he says.For now, Ashok’s biggest weapon remains his pace. But beyond the speed gun, the 23-year-old is determined to become a complete fast bowler. With an India debut now within touching distance, he hopes the journey that began on dusty grounds in Rampura, around 35 km from Rajasthan’s capital Jaipur, is only gathering pace.
