Young fast bowler Ashok Sharma is determined to make the most of his maiden India call-up for the Zimbabwe series after an impressive domestic season with Rajasthan and a breakthrough TATA IPL campaign with Gujarat Titans.
Speaking to JioStar, Sharma said his immediate dream is to wear the India jersey and represent the country. “My first target will be to wear the India jersey. I have waited for this moment for a long time. I want to make this opportunity count,” he said.
The pacer credited senior bowlers Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Siraj, along with Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra, for helping him improve his game. Sharma revealed that Ishant advised him to focus on bowling consistently in the good-length area, which helped him become more effective.
He also spoke about learning from Siraj’s experience, saying their discussions about handling pressure, planning against batters and improving bowling skills helped him grow as a cricketer.
Sharma described Nehra as a mentor who always encouraged him to clear doubts and analyse his performances. He said watching bowling videos with Nehra after matches helped him understand areas of improvement.
The young pacer also named legendary South African fast bowler Dale Steyn as his inspiration, praising his aggression, intensity and ability to win matches single-handedly.
After earning a place in the Indian squad, Sharma said he wants to continue following his process, take wickets and play as many matches as possible. His long-term goal is to represent India in red-ball cricket as well.
Quotes credited to JioStar.
