'One day I can hit 160 kmph': Ashok Sharma wants to break the batter with pace

Ashok Sharma is part of India’s T20I squad for Zimbabwe. NEW DELHI: Ashok Sharma was over the moon when the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) applied for his passport and he was given a visa to Ireland. He expected an invitation to tour Ireland but was overlooked.“There was high hope, this happened for the first time. (My hopes were really high because all this happened for the first time),” Ashok tells TimesofIndia.com from Bengaluru, where he is playing the Emerging Men’s tournament.“When the management asked for my passport for the Ireland series, I was hopeful. But when I wasn’t picked in the squad, I knew I would get my chance because there was so much cricket coming up. I stayed patient,” says Sharma, who has now earned his first India call-up for the three-match T20I series against Zimbabwe starting on July 23.Over the past nine months, Ashok Sharma has gone from being a domestic pace sensation to becoming India’s newest fast-bowling prospect. He broke the 11-year-old Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy record with 22 wickets for Rajasthan, turned heads with his blistering pace for Gujarat Titans, earned a call-up to India A as an injury replacement and has now broken into the senior Indian team.

I never want to compromise my pace. I always focus on improving my bowling. If all goes well, maybe one day I’ll get to 160 km/h.

Ashok Sharma

The main reason behind his rapid rise has been his pace and the 23-year-old is unwilling to compromise on the weapon that has earned him acclaim. Having already reached a speed of 154.2 km/h, he believes that one day he will reach a speed of 160 km/h.“I never want to compromise my pace. I am always focused on improving my bowling. If everything goes well, maybe one day I will get to 160 kmph, but I don’t think too much about it. I just want to keep improving and becoming more skillful,” says Sharma.The 23-year-old pacer laughs as he recalls his first overseas trip when he flew to Sri Lanka with the Tilak Varma-led India A team. The reel of his stunning catch during India’s must-win match against Afghanistan A has gone viral.“Mast tha. Representing the country for the first time, it was so much fun, it was so special.. (It was great. I represented India for the first time. It was very special and I enjoyed it a lot),” 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 some improvements, especially in my non-bowling arm, and advised me to keep working hard. He said the reward will come,” says Sharma.

Ashok Sharma of Gujarat Titans during the warm-up before the start of the Indian Premier League 2026 match against Mumbai Indians at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. (NOT a 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 emphasized the importance of hitting a hard length in every format.“Everybody has a similar message. They don’t try to teach too many different things. Every bowler has different strengths. Some rely on swing, some rely on pace, and everybody has to work on their strengths,” he says.

Pat Cummins told me to focus on making it better instead of trying to be someone else. If I spend too much time chasing a swing, I may not be able to mix as quickly.

Ashok Sharma

Among them was one interview that stayed with him, with Pat Cummins during his time at KKR.“When I was with the Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022, Pat Cummins asked me what my biggest strength was. I said I could hit a hard length. Cummins told me to focus on getting better at that rather than trying to become someone else. If I spend too much time chasing my swing, I might not be able to bite as quickly. I’ve always wanted to strengthen what I can already do well. (his advice),” says Ashok.Ashok also impressed his Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill with his ability to bowl at 150 km/h and deliver a 110 km/h slower ball with the same action. He explains how he developed the deceptive delivery while playing prize money tournaments in Jaipur.

Ashok Sharma of Gujarat Titans and his teammate celebrate the goal of Rovman Powell of Kolkata Knight Riders during their Indian Premier League 2026 match at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday. (NOT a photo)

“I started cricket in the academy and also played local prize money tournaments. At that time I used to bowl around 130-135 kmph but I didn’t know how to bowl slower deliveries. I only had a cutter from which the bats were collected easily. My coach, the late Vivek Yadav, suggested that I learn back practice, later it was much slower. In the semi-finals of the money prize tournament, I took six wickets, including four with this delivery, which gave me confidence that it could become one of my main weapons,” he says.Although Ashok has been a part of other IPL franchises before, Gujarat Titans extended him and he owes support to captain Gill.“Shubman bhai was very supportive from the beginning,” he says.

Shubman bhai was very supportive from the beginning. He always gave me the freedom to express myself and never pressured me. 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 told me to support my strengths and not try to do too much. Whenever I was in two minds during a match, I asked 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 only just begun, but he has already set a long-term goal: to play Test cricket because he believes he has the ability to mix long, hostile spells. He hopes to impress the selectors with the red ball in the four-day Emerging tournament, which begins on Wednesday at the Center of Excellence (CoE) in Bengaluru.

Ashok Sharma of Gujarat Titans during the warm-up session before the Indian Premier League 2026 Qualifier 1 match against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala on Tuesday. (NOT a 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. We have a four-day red ball match at the CoE from Wednesday. 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 who the selectors believe have huge potential. Harshit Rana has already made his mark in white-ball cricket. Prince Yadav and Gurnoor Brar have impressed with the opportunities they have been given, while Mayank Yadav has returned to the Indian team after a long layoff due to injury.

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Share an opinion“Healthy competition is always important. If there’s no competition, you won’t push yourself to improve. Competition motivates you to improve every day. Whether it’s speed or wickets, it helps you grow as a cricketer,” he says.Ashoka’s biggest weapon so far remains his pace. But off the speed weapon, the 23-year-old is determined to become an all-around fast bowler. With an India debut now within reach, he hopes the journey that began on the dusty grounds of Rampura, about 35 km from Rajasthan’s capital Jaipur, only gathers momentum.