On a humid Saturday night at the Narendra Modi Stadium, the Indian Premier League found its newest speed merchant. Gujarat Titans off-spinner Ashok Sharma produced a spell of visceral fast bowling and hit a stunning 154.2 kmph, the fastest performance of the 2026 season, to blow Rajasthan Royals away.
GT vs RR Update | Scorecard
The record breaking moment came in the 16th over when Ashok Sharma bowled Dhruv Jurel. He fired in a blazing yorker which Jurel managed to prevent just in time and brought the bat down at the last moment. However, the Rajasthan batsman at the wicket had no idea where the ball had gone after the contact.
Remarkably, Ashok bowled the fastest ball of the season despite suffering a blow to his finger on the previous delivery. He required treatment with an ice pack after trying to stop a wild direct drive from Donovan Ferreira that was hit straight at him.
It wasn’t just a lone burst of pace. The 23-year-old maintained a permanent feud, breaking the 150 km/h mark three times during his four-wheel drive.
Despite Rajasthan Royals posting a formidable 210 for 6, powered by Jurel’s 75 and Yashasvi Jaiswal’s 55, Sharma remained Gujarat Titans’ standout story. He finished with figures of 1 for 37, which also provided a crucial breakthrough for Shimron Hetmyer, who was looking to step up after being given a reprieve.
The legendary Dale Steyn dissected his mid-air bowling action on Saturday, noting that the 23-year-old’s run-up was quick and powerful as he bowled with a steady head and eyes firmly on the pitch. Steyn added that his front leg brace was almost perfect, making it one of the smoother actions among the express fast bowlers.
FASTEST IPL 2026 DELIVERY
- Ashok Sharma – 154.2 kmph
- Anrich Nortje – 150.9
- Kartik Tyagi – 149.7
- Kagiso Rabada – 149.1
INDIANS BOWED FASTEST DELIVERIES IN IPL
- Umran Malik – 157 kmph for SRH in 2022
- Mayank Yadav – 156.7 kmph for LSG in 2024
- Ashok Sharma – 154.2 km/h for GT in 2026
Who is Ashok Sharma?
Ashok Sharma made his IPL debut earlier this week against Punjab Kings on March 31. True to his reputation, his very first delivery in the league was clocked at 149.7 kmph. His first IPL wicket followed soon after, when he bowled a clever back slower ball to dismiss Marc Jansen in Gujarat’s opening match of the season at Mullanpur. He finished with figures of 1 for 31 in that game and earned praise from captain Shubman Gill.
“He’s someone who works very hard on his game and he’s a pretty good fielder for us. I actually met him during camp a couple of months ago and I was very impressed with how he played with the new ball as well,” Gill said.
While Sharma had previously spent time at the Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals camps without getting a game, Gujarat Titans’ decision to secure him for Rs 90 lakh in the 2026 auction already looks like a masterstroke. Now the fastest man in the league, the boy who once almost traded his spikes for a plow has become one of the most feared spots in the tournament.
Ashok Sharma’s rise from Rampura village near Jaipur is rooted in a touching family story. Growing up in a modest farming household, financial constraints meant that his father Nathulal could only support one son’s cricketing ambitions. In a selfless act of sacrifice, Ashok’s elder brother, Akshay Sharma, has decided to withdraw from his own promising cricket career, as reported by The Tech Word News.
Akshay moved away from the game to focus on farming and education, persuading his parents to allow Ashok to pursue cricket wholeheartedly.
However, the road was far from smooth.
Just three years ago, frustrated by the lack of opportunities in the state under-23 circuit, Ashok was on the verge of quitting the sport. He began preparing for state exams and helping his father on the family farm, resigned to a life far from 22 yards.
His fortunes changed on a whim when he participated in a talent hunt. Arriving after registrations closed, he asked officials for one delivery. Bowling in slippers, he reached a speed of 140 km/h, a feat that immediately caught the attention of experienced scouts.
Before his record-breaking night in Ahmedabad, Sharma had already established himself in domestic cricket. During the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, he emerged as the breakout star of the tournament, taking 22 wickets in just 10 matches. He also broke the decade-old record for most goals in a single group stage, highlighting that his raw pace was complemented by a keen goal instinct.
– The end
Issued by:
Akshay Ramesh
Published on:
04 Apr 2026 22:42 IST
