New Delhi: India’s bowling line-up has got yet another exciting prospect, with Rajasthan pacer Ashok Sharma set to make his international debut in the opening T20I against Zimbabwe in Harare on Thursday.The 24-year-old received his maiden cap for India after a remarkable rise through domestic cricket and the IPL, as captain. Shreyas Iyer won the toss and elected to bat first in the opening match of the three-match series.Speaking after the toss, Iyer explained the decision to shoot first, citing the expected rise in Harare’s altitude.“We will start bowling, this is my first time here, so I don’t know how the wicket will play. “But looking at the wickets for the match, there was a good number,” said Iyer.India opted for a balanced attack consisting of three seamers and one spinner, giving Ashok the chance to start his international tour alongside fellow pacers 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 Rajasthan village to an Indian cap
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 is a farmer, and the family’s economic situation meant that he could support one son to pursue cricket seriously.His elder brother, Akshay Sharma, who played provincial cricket, put his interests aside so that Ashok could continue chasing his dreams.Years of hard work finally paid off as Ashok emerged as one of India’s best pacers in the 2025-26 domestic season.
Records of playing domestic seasons and IPL wins
Ashok announced himself on the national stage in the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, finishing as the tournament’s top wicket-taker with 22 wickets in just 10 matches. His ability to consistently hit hard at speeds in excess of 150 kmph quickly attracted the attention of IPL franchises.Gujarat Titans acquired his services for Rs 90 lakh in the IPL 2026 auction, a move that turned out to be an inspired investment.Working under the guidance of head coach Ashish Nehra, Ashok impressed with his raw pace and big leaps throughout the season. His standout moment came against Rajasthan Royals when he blasted 154.2 km/h to bring the fastest IPL 2026, sending a thunderbolt to Dhruv Jurel at the Narendra Modi Stadium.Despite playing just six matches, the right-arm pacer took six wickets and constantly troubled the batsmen with his pace.
