Pace is pace: Ashok Sharma’s 150 kph rise, powered by Pat Cummins’ valuable advice

Ashok Sharma's story is one of dedication, mentorship, and a relentless pursuit of speed, taking him from a farming village near Jaipur to clocking 150 kph. The 23-year-old's journey has been shaped by guidance from his late coach Vivek Yadav, support from Anshu Jain, and valuable advice from cricket figures like Pat Cummins and Bharat Arun. His raw pace, now combined with improved control, has made him a standout bowler in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

Rajasthan head coach Anshu Jain recalls his initial impression of Ashok Sharma during a net session in Jaipur. He described him to TimesofIndia.com as "erratic but fast."

Sharma's talent led to the Gujarat Titans acquiring the Rajasthan pacer for ₹90 lakh at the IPL 2026 auction in Abu Dhabi. That said, the reality is a bit more complicated. it's his exceptional speed that's grabbing attention. He broke an 11-year-old record in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, finishing as the tournament's leading wicket-taker with 22 wickets. Jain, who has followed Ashok's progress since his U-19 days, isn't surprised by his success. "He has worked on his length, and now with the speed, there is accuracy as well. In our match against Hyderabad, he didn’t pick any wickets in one over, but all six balls he bowled were above 145 kph, with one touching the 150 mark,” Jain said.

Sharma, who comes from a farming background, says his fast-bowling ability came naturally, inspired by his elder brother Akshay Sharma. "I was naturally quick. Ever since I started bowling, I’ve always had good pace,” Ashok told TimesofIndia.com. He credits Akshay for teaching him the fundamentals and introducing him to the academy. Growing up in Rampur, the Sharma family faced a difficult decision about their sons' futures. Nathulal, their father, wanted them to either focus on education or help on the farm. Akshay selflessly gave up his own cricketing aspirations to allow Ashok to pursue the sport.

"He sacrificed his career... My brother is my everything,” Ashok said. Vivek Yadav, a former Ranji Trophy cricketer, became another important mentor, recognizing Ashok's potential early on. "He played a big role in my life... He supported me a lot," Ashok recalls. Yadav tragically passed away during the Covid-19 pandemic, which deeply affected Ashok. "That was the last time I shed tears. I thought my career was over,” he admitted. Yadav's belief in Ashok's potential to play for India fueled his dreams.

Following Yadav's death, Anshu Jain selected Ashok for the inter-district tournament, supporting him despite some reservations from others. "He was quick even then, but the problem was line and length... But he was an X-factor," Jain stated, emphasizing the rarity of 140-plus kph bowlers. Jain continued to support Ashok, helping him work on his length and develop his all-around game.

Ashok's journey included being signed by Kolkata Knight Riders in 2022 for ₹55 lakh, followed by a stint as a net bowler with Rajasthan Royals. Despite these experiences, he found himself released and later picked up in the 2025 mega auction by Royals for his base price of ₹30 lakh, only to be released again without playing a game. Throughout these ups and downs, the advice he received from Pat Cummins while at KKR remained invaluable. "I just wanted to keep my pace and hit the right length. In 2022, I spent a lot of time with Pat Cummins,” Ashok said. Cummins emphasized the importance of focusing on his strengths, which was hitting a hard length at good pace.

Bharat Arun, also at KKR, played a role in refining Ashok's action and run-up. Arun taught him the importance of fitness, diet, and recovery for a fast bowler. Jain has noticed a significant transformation in Ashok over the past two years, highlighting his dedication to training and diet. Despite the praise, Ashok remains humble, deeply missing his mentor, Vivek Yadav. "The person who prepared me so thoroughly... is no longer here to see it — that hurts deeply,” he said. Ashok maintains close contact with Yadav's family, feeling an added responsibility to them.

While Ashok is focused on bowling faster, he also dreams of meeting Dale Steyn, a long-time idol. He met Steyn briefly during his time with KKR, a memorable moment for the young bowler. Despite the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy being dominated by batters, Ashok Sharma has stood out with his impressive pace and wicket-taking ability. Anshu Jain believes that Ashok has even more pace to unlock and that consistent performance could open doors to Indian selection.