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Gujarat Titans (GT) fast bowler Ashok Sharma received a call from the national team selectors to join the India A squad in Sri Lanka for the ongoing triangular ODI series against Sri Lanka and Afghanistan. Ashok Sharma will join the camp as an injury replacement.
It is learned that Yudhveer Singh has ruled himself out of the series due to injury and the board has called the 23-year-old Gujarat Titans fast bowler to replace him.
Ashok Sharma had a memorable journey with Gujarat Titans
Ashok Sharma was among the few uncapped Indian fast bowlers who impressed with pace and well-controlled bowling in the IPL 2026 season. When Sharma showed his ability to bowl at a speed of 150 kmph, he immediately caught everyone’s attention. In the 2026 season with the Gujarat franchise, the budding seamer took 6 wickets at an economy rate of 10.85 in 6 matches and as many innings.
The economy rate was high, but it was his knack for taking wickets at crucial moments, and express pace that set him apart from other fast bowlers at the same level.
The right-arm fast bowler got the update a day after he changed his home team from Rajasthan to Gujarat. Rajasthan Cricket Association (RCA) has given him a No Objection Certificate (NOC). He has changed his home base in search of better opportunities.
“For better opportunities, I decided to move to Gujarat,” Ashok told the media.
Before joining GT he was with KKR and Rajasthan Royals
Ashok Sharma’s talent was recognized very early, when Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) signed him for Rs 55 lakh ahead of the IPL 2022 season. The franchise released him without giving him any playing time.
In the mega auction, Sharma joined Rajasthan Royals for a price of Rs 30 lakh. Before joining KKR, he was a net bowler for Royals. At the Royals, again, the budding fast bowler went without any game time.
After spending time with Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Titans picked him up in the mini auction, and finally, Ashok Sharma made his IPL debut in 2026. The first season was good for him as he took some important wickets for the team, which finished as runners-up as they lost against Royal Challengers Bangalore in the summit clash in Ahmedabad.
Pat Cummins’ tips helped Sharma develop his bowling
Australian pacer Pat Cummins left his mark on the Indian pacer. Cummins advised Sharma to maintain faith in strength
“In 2022, I spent a lot of time with Pat Cummins. I talked to him at length about length and what I can do better. He asked me a simple question: ‘What are your strengths?’ Every bowler has one. Some twist it, some stitch it. He asked me how I felt about my strength. I told him that I can hit hard length at a good pace. He asked me to stick to it. Whenever I practice, I remember his words. They still echo in my ears,” Ashok said in an interview with The Times of India.