TimesofIndia.com in Lucknow: A day after switching his home allegiance from Rajasthan to Gujarat, quick bowler Ashok Sharma has been drafted into the India A squad in Sri Lanka as an harm alternative. The 23-year-old pacer replaces injured Yudhvir Singh.Ashok will fly to Colombo on Tuesday morning earlier than linking up with the squad in Dambulla, the place the tri-series that includes India A, Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A is being performed. Led by Tilak Varma, India A suffered a slim defeat in opposition to the hosts on Monday and can now face Afghanistan A in a must-win conflict on June 17.Ashok grabbed consideration through the Indian Premier League together with his uncooked tempo. He picked up six wickets in as many matches and is extremely rated by the administration of Gujarat Titans, who signed him for ?90 lakh on the public sale.TimesofIndia.com understands that Ashok’s capacity to bowl at 150 kph whereas disguising a 115-kph slower supply with the identical motion has notably impressed Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill.The younger speedster first burst into the highlight together with his categorical tempo. He broke an 11-year-old report within the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and completed because the event’s main wicket-taker with 22 wickets.Ashok secured his first IPL contract in 2022 when Kolkata Knight Riders signed him for ?55 lakh. He was later launched and spent a season as a internet bowler with Rajasthan Royals. On the 2025 mega public sale, Rajasthan Royals purchased him for his base worth of ?30 lakh however launched him once more with out giving him a sport.Regardless of the setbacks, one factor remained fixed: the recommendation he obtained from Australian captain Pat Cummins throughout his time with Kolkata Knight Riders.“I by no means thought of slowing down. I simply needed to take care of my tempo and hit the suitable lengths. In 2022, I spent lots of time with Pat Cummins,” Ashok had instructed TimesofIndia.com earlier this 12 months. “I spoke to him about lengths and what I might do higher. He requested me a easy query: ‘What’s your energy?’ Each bowler has one. Some swing it, some seam it. He requested me what I felt my energy was. I instructed him I might hit a tough size at good tempo. He instructed me to stay to that. Every time I practise, I bear in mind his phrases. They nonetheless echo in my ears.”Ashok now has a chance to impress the selectors together with his tempo and management within the India A setup. There’s nonetheless no correct highway connecting his village, Rampura, situated about 35 kilometres from Jaipur, to the surface world. However the younger quick bowler’s journey is transferring in the suitable path, and he’s edging nearer to his vacation spot.
