Gujarat Titans lost their first game of the IPL 2026 against Punjab Kings on Tuesday but they had some positives, including Ashok Sharma.
The promising young pacer from Rajasthan made his debut in the league against Punjab Kings, and impressed his captain Shubman Gill.
Promising Signs from Ashok Sharma in IPL 2026
Ashok Sharma claimed 1 for 31 in his three overs on his debut. It may have been an expensive spell but he showed good potential for the future. Gill was impressed by the 23-year-old youngster's first test on the big stage.
Speaking in the post-match presentation, Gill spoke about the seamer's work ethic and the value he brings to the table.
"As for Ashok (Sharma), he works hard on the game, he's a good find for us. He bowled pretty well up front and I think in the back, he's definitely someone that, you know, I think as he keeps playing more matches and keeps getting more experience, he'll be very valuable for us," said Gill.
"He's someone who works very hard, you know, on his game and is a pretty good fielder for us. And I actually met him during the camp a couple of months ago and I was very impressed by the way he was bowling with the new ball as well. Hopefully, he'll get a chance in some of the matches to show some of his skills with the new ball," he added.
The speedster had an excellent campaign in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025, where he bagged 22 wickets from 10 games. On the back of it, he was acquired by the Titans for INR 90 lakhs.
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Gujarat Titans Must Back The Young Gun
Ashok Sharma bowled at good pace against Punjab Kings. In his very first over, he bowled five deliveries over 142 kmph. Three of those were over 147 kmph and one nearly touched 150.
In his second over, Gill tasked him with targeting Shreyas Iyer with hard lengths. The first delivery was a well-directed bumper at head but Shreyas made just enough contact for the ball to fly over the ropes. The second one was sliding down, and the PBKS smashed it for a maximum. Ashok adjusted his line, conceding only a single in the next three balls.
When GT had only 21 runs to defend off the last three overs, Gill handed the ball to Ashok Sharma despite experienced Mohammed Siraj having two overs in the bank. He lived up to the captain's faith, conceding five runs and removing Marco Jansen.
All in all, Ashok Sharma showed some really good promise that can be worked upon with good management and a consistent run. For that, Gujarat Titans must be patient and continue backing the young gun.
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