Ashok Sharma is one of the hottest new names in Indian cricket right now, yet he has not played a game in the IPL for four seasons and has participated only in the IPL auction to date and has yet to debut at the IPL level. In addition to being a right-handed bat, his greatest talent is his bowling, especially with his ability to swing the new ball both ways at a very fast pace with speeds close to 150 km/h.
A chance meeting with a talent agent or trial helped Ashok on his way to success. This opportunity led him to receive recognition from senior players and coaches for his exceptional ability to bowl well against well-established batters. With this new-found confidence, he continued to grow in stature and believe that he was capable of performing, operating at a superior level compared to before.
Big breakthrough in SMAT 2025
In the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy (SMAT) 2025, one of India’s top domestic T20 cricket tournaments and one of the paths into the IPL for cricketers was the break for Ashok Sharma. While representing Rajasthan cricket in SMAT 2025, he was the highest wicket-taker for any bowler in the tournament.
Achieving three wickets on November 26, 2025, in his first senior T20 game against Tamil Nadu was just the beginning of regular wicket-taking for him, as he consistently hauled in four wickets and three for many matches thereafter. During his first nine matches, he achieved 19-20 wickets with very good average and economy, which drew his attention from all franchises.
His run of great performances got the attention of analysts and journalists who labelled him one of IPL 2026’s best young Indian pacemen within the auction market.
IPL 2026 Auction and Gujarat Titans
Prior to IPL 2026, Ashok Sharma was a hot target for many teams in the auction market due to his speed, swing pitching, and excellent recent domestic performance. His prospects had become very bright since IPL 2026 and Abu Dhabi, when the Gujarat Titans showed very serious interest in acquiring him in the auction.
Ultimately Gujarat Titans acquired him with a maximum bid of ₹90 lakh. The newly acquired player’s value indicated how much his value has improved compared to previous IPL auctions. He has quickly become one of the most talked about young pacers in IPL 2026.
However, Ashok is yet to have any official record of an IPL match debut after being acquired by Gujarat Titans.
| Topic | Details |
| Full name | Ashok Sharma |
| Birth date | 17 June 2002 |
| Place of birth | Rampur village, Jaipur, Rajasthan |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Religion | Hindu |
| Hometown | Jaipur, Rajasthan |
| School | Rawat Public School, Jaipur |
| College | SS Jain Subodh PG College, Rambagh, Jaipur |
| Qualifications | School + Undergraduate studies (non‑engineering) |
| Address | Rampur village, Jaipur, Rajasthan (family home) |
| Father’s name | Nathulal Sharma (farmer) |
| Mother’s name | Name not publicly shared (housewife) |
| Marital status | Unmarried |
| Girlfriend | Not publicly known |
| Hobbies | Playing cricket, training, fitness workouts, watching matches |
| Favourites | Cricket, Indian team, fast bowling, IPL |
| Height | Around 5 feet 10 inches (approximate, not officially fixed) |
| Eye colour | Brown (commonly reported) |
| Hair colour | Black (commonly reported) |
| Rewards / income | ₹30 lakh approximate yearly IPL‑linked earnings (as of 2025) |