The Indian Premier League (IPL) has a knack for turning raw talent into instant household names. Over the years, it has helped shape the trajectories of several India-facing stars—from Jasprit Bumrah and Sanju Samson to younger prospects such as 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. In IPL 2026, one player who has quickly caught the eye is Rajasthan fast bowler Ashok Sharma, now in Gujarat Titans’ ranks. Through his first five games, Ashok has been delivering real pace at the top end, regularly pushing close to the 150 kmph mark and leaving batters with very little margin.
Yet the path that brought Ashok to the biggest stage in T20 cricket has not been an easy one. The 23-year-old hails from a small village situated roughly 35 kilometres from Jaipur, where his family has had to manage without proper roads or basic amenities. Despite those struggles, they have continued to live there, choosing the calm and comfort of their home environment over the conveniences many others might prefer.
Speaking about Ashok’s daily routine and mindset, his elder brother Akshay described how life in the village has shaped his approach to training. “He really likes it here. He starts his day at 5 am, goes to the ground for running, and then trains for about three hours. After that, he comes back by 8 and rests again. He has also become very careful about his diet, particularly after the knee injury he picked up during his time with KKR. He often says he would trade away a fancy five-star lifestyle for this kind of routine,” Akshay said.
Akshay added that Ashok’s food choices are straightforward, with homemade meals forming the backbone of his diet plan. “For him, diet, recovery, and sleep are the three key pillars of his training now,” he said.
The elder brother also highlighted the emotional pull of their roots. “Sukoon hai idhar (it’s peaceful here). Ashok enjoys it. Everything began right here—whether it was me playing cricket or him taking those big strides. Ashok always tells me, ‘Kuch bhi ho jaaye, apna gaon nahi chhodenge’ (whatever happens, we will never leave our ancestral village),” Akshay added.
Akshay further revealed how mentorship played a role in Ashok’s development. He said former Ranji Trophy cricketer Vivek Yadav guided Ashok in 2019. However, after Yadav’s sudden death in 2021 due to COVID-19, Ashok had to navigate a tough stretch. “In 2019, when he was 17, I took him to the Aravali Cricket Academy. Vivek bhaiya was impressed by his pace. Ashok was a bit erratic at the time, but he still placed him straight into the senior group and asked me to let him stay at the academy. That decision helped Ashok grow as a cricketer,” Akshay said.
Akshay also spoke about how Ashok struggled to speak for weeks after the setback caused by Yadav’s passing, leaving the family anxious that the dream might be over. “Ashok didn’t speak for weeks. We felt like the dream was finished, and we were completely clueless. Later, Vikas (Yadav) bhaiya called us and assured us he would honour his brother’s dream, promising that the academy would do everything possible to help Ashok reach his potential,” he added.
Ashok Sharma had previously been part of the Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals squads, but his IPL debut arrived only in 2026. He first played for Gujarat Titans against Punjab Kings on March 31. In total so far, he has featured in five matches and picked up six wickets.
