Ashok Sharma reveals how Brett Lee and Dale Steyn inspired his 'dream of bowling 150'

Ashok Sharma has emerged arsenic 1 of the astir breathtaking fast-bowling discoveries of IPL 2026, with the young Gujarat Titans pacer turning heads done his earthy gait and fearless attitude.

Clocking deliveries consistently supra 150 kph, the 23-year-old has rapidly go 1 of the tournament’s breakout stars.Sharma precocious created headlines aft delivering a thunderbolt astatine 154.2 kph against Rajasthan Royals batter Dhruv Jurel, the fastest transportation recorded successful IPL 2026 and 1 of the quickest balls ever bowled successful IPL history.Reflecting connected the infinitesimal during an interrogation with ESPNcricinfo, Sharma admitted it was the fulfilment of a puerility imagination inspired by legendary pacers similar Brett Lee and Dale Steyn.“As a child, watching idiosyncratic vessel 150 kph, I would imagination that someday I would bash the same. I utilized to ticker Brett Lee and Dale Steyn and wonderment however overmuch effort they enactment in, however accelerated they bowled and however it felt. Now I consciousness it myself,” Sharma said.

The young speedy described bowling astatine 150-plus arsenic a large milestone for immoderate accelerated bowler.“Bahut badi baat hai 150 dalna (Bowling astatine 150 kph is simply a large deal). Whoever starts bowling accelerated dreams of bowling 150 1 day.

I had the aforesaid dream, which I person present achieved. But astatine the moment, my imagination is to assistance the squad win,” helium added.Sharma besides credited Gujarat Titans caput manager Ashish Nehra for playing a immense relation successful improving his bowling subject and lucifer awareness. According to Sharma, Nehra’s biggest acquisition has been mastering Test-match lengths earlier focusing connected variations.''He ever stands down the bowler during training. He talks astir speechmaking a batsman.

As a accelerated bowler, the archetypal happening helium has told america is that we should beryllium capable to vessel Test-match lengths. He has ever stressed that it is important however overmuch power we person connected pitching connected that magnitude consistently, six balls successful a row. Only aft that, helium says, tin we enactment connected the yorkers, slower ones etc. and maestro them,'' Sharma explained.Ashok Sharma was signed by Gujarat Titans for Rs 90 lakh astatine the IPL 2026 auction, the Rajasthan-born pacer had antecedently spent clip with Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals without getting a game.

However, his outstanding show successful the 2025-26 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, wherever helium finished arsenic joint-highest wicket-taker with 22 wickets, yet earned him a due IPL opportunity.So acold this season, Sharma has taken six wickets successful his archetypal six matches, with champion figures of 2/32 against Lucknow Super Giants. He besides boasts the highest mean velocity successful IPL 2026 among bowlers who person bowled astatine slightest 60 deliveries, averaging an awesome 145.6 kph.