India A have drafted in Ashok Sharma for the final stages of the one-day tri-series in Dambulla after seamer Yudhvir Singh was ruled out with a side strain. The call-up, confirmed on Tuesday morning, rewards Sharma’s growing pace reputation and coincides with his move from Rajasthan to Gujarat for the 2026-27 domestic season.
“We needed a bowler who can hit the deck hard straight away,” India A coach Shitanshu Kotak said. “Ashok offers that burst of pace and, importantly, he’s already match-fit after the IPL.”
Sharma, 23, touched 154.2kph during this year’s IPL, one of the tournament’s quickest deliveries. His six wickets in six outings for Gujarat Titans came at a lively strike-rate, yet an economy of 10.85 eventually cost him his spot. Bowling coach Ashish Nehra defended the youngster’s figures. “He was learning on the run,” Nehra insisted. “Raw speed is difficult to teach; control comes with overs.”
The right-armer’s numbers in last winter’s Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy underline that point: 22 wickets in ten matches, average 15.63, strike-rate a shade over ten. Observers noted not only his velocity but a knack for late movement, particularly with the older white ball.
Gujarat’s domestic coach Sulakshan Kulkarni welcomed the No-Objection Certificate secured from Rajasthan. “We’ve followed Ashok since age-group cricket,” he said. “He suits our seaming tracks and, with Mukesh Kumar likely on Test duty, we needed extra pace.” The switch ends Sharma’s brief senior stint for Rajasthan, where he collected 14 first-class and 13 List A wickets in a single season.
The bowler himself sounded measured rather than giddy. “I’m thankful to both state associations for making the paperwork simple,” he said. “For now the focus is Sri Lanka. If I nail my yorkers and keep the radar tight, the rest should look after itself.”
India A have lost two of three matches in Dambulla, one in a Super Over against the hosts. They meet Afghanistan A on Wednesday, needing a win to keep Sunday’s final in sight. Yudhvir’s injury left a hole with the new ball; selectors hope Sharma’s extra pace can jolt the campaign back on course.
Former India quick Zaheer Khan cautioned against immediate comparisons with established stars. “He’s exciting, no question, but the step from state to ‘A’ cricket is significant. Let’s give him room to settle.”
That sense of balance frames Sharma’s latest promotion. The speed gun may draw the headlines, yet his progress will be judged on quieter measures: length, economy, resilience. Another audition begins this week in the hill country of Sri Lanka.
