Ashok Sharma credits Siraj for T20I call-up: 'He taught me to handle pressure'
Synopsis
A pacer clocking 154.2 kmph who spent his IPL apprenticeship asking Mohammed Siraj how to handle match pressure and Ishant Sharma how to add eight wickets to a four-match haul — Ashok Sharma's maiden India call-up is the story of a young fast bowler who treated every dressing-room conversation as a masterclass.
Key Takeaways
Ashok Sharma earned his maiden India T20I call-up for the upcoming series against Zimbabwe .
He credited Mohammed Siraj with teaching him how to handle pressure and set up batters during their time at Gujarat Titans .
Ashok clocked 154.2 kmph on his IPL debut and took six wickets in six matches in IPL 2026 , with best figures of 2 for 32 .
He was bought by Gujarat Titans for ₹90 lakh in the 2025 IPL auction .
Veteran Ishant Sharma advised him to focus on consistent good-length bowling, telling him his 16 Ranji Trophy wickets in four matches could become 24 with that adjustment.
India pacer Ashok Sharma has credited senior fast bowler Mohammed Siraj with shaping his development as a professional cricketer, revealing that the experienced seamer's guidance during their time together at Gujarat Titans helped him grasp the mental and technical demands of fast bowling at the highest level. Ashok earned his maiden India call-up for the upcoming T20I series against Zimbabwe, a milestone he attributes in part to the lessons absorbed from Siraj.
Learning from Siraj in the Dressing Room
Ashok described how he made the most of every shared session with Siraj, peppering the senior bowler with questions about match pressure, pre-delivery thinking, and how to set up batters. 'I had a lot of talks with Siraj bhaiya as well. Whenever we were in the dressing room or bowling together in the nets, I would keep asking him questions throughout the day. I would ask him, 'Bhaiya, when you play a match, how much pressure do you feel? What do you think before bowling a delivery? If I have to bowl to someone, how should I set him up?' I would discuss all these things with him,' Ashok said in an interview to JioStar.
According to Ashok, Siraj reciprocated with patience and precision. 'Siraj bhaiya would explain everything to me very well. He would stand with me and watch two or three of my deliveries. Then he would tell me, 'Do this, make this change, try this.' So I learned a lot from him. I have carried all those learnings with me. Whenever I get time to practice in Jaipur, I focus on those things and try to do them even better,' he added.
IPL 2026 Breakthrough and the Road to India
Ashok was purchased by Gujarat Titans for ₹90 lakh in the 2025 IPL auction. He marked his IPL debut against Punjab by clocking 154.2 kmph, immediately signalling his capacity to generate genuine pace. Across six matches in IPL 2026, he claimed six wickets with best figures of 2 for 32 — performances that built a compelling case for national recognition.
Ishant Sharma's Advice on Length Bowling
Ashok also recalled a formative conversation with veteran India fast bowler Ishant Sharma when he first joined the Gujarat Titans camp. Ishant, who has taken more than 300 Test wickets for India, enquired about Ashok's recent form before offering a precise prescription. 'He said, 'Everything looks good. You are bowling well. But if you work a little more on your length, especially the good length area, those 16 wickets in four matches can easily become 24. Just focus on hitting that consistent length,'' Ashok recalled.
Ashok had informed Ishant that he had claimed 16 wickets in four Ranji Trophy matches. The exchange left a lasting impression. 'That was a big moment for me. Ishant bhai has played Test cricket for India and has taken more than 300 wickets. He has bowled to the best batters in the world. If he gave me that advice, he must have said it after watching me closely. That advice stayed with me. It reminded me that small improvements in the right areas can make a big difference,' he said.
What's Next
With his maiden India call-up secured, Ashok will look to translate the mentorship of Siraj and Ishant into performances on the international stage. The T20I series against Zimbabwe represents his first opportunity to demonstrate that the lessons from Gujarat Titans' dressing room can travel beyond the IPL.
Point of View
Actionable nature of the advice he received from both Siraj and Ishant points to a culture of knowledge transfer that rarely gets acknowledged publicly. Whether that translates at international level against Zimbabwe is another question, but the self-awareness Ashok displays — crediting mentors, articulating what he learned and why — is itself a signal of a cricketer who is thinking seriously about his craft rather than coasting on raw pace.
NationPress
21 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Ashok Sharma and why has he been called up for India?
Ashok Sharma is a young India pacer who was purchased by Gujarat Titans for ₹90 lakh in the 2025 IPL auction. He earned his maiden India T20I call-up for the Zimbabwe series after taking six wickets in six IPL 2026 matches and clocking 154.2 kmph on debut.
What did Mohammed Siraj teach Ashok Sharma?
Siraj helped Ashok understand how to handle match pressure, how to think before bowling a delivery, and how to set up batters. He would watch Ashok's deliveries in the nets and offer specific technical corrections during their time together at Gujarat Titans.
What advice did Ishant Sharma give Ashok Sharma?
Ishant Sharma advised Ashok to work on consistently hitting the good-length area, telling him that this single adjustment could take his tally from 16 Ranji Trophy wickets in four matches to 24. Ashok described it as a defining moment in his development.
How did Ashok Sharma perform in IPL 2026?
Ashok Sharma featured in six matches for Gujarat Titans in IPL 2026, claiming six wickets with best figures of 2 for 32. His ability to bowl consistently above 150 kmph drew attention throughout the tournament.
Which series will Ashok Sharma make his India debut in?
Ashok Sharma has been called up for the T20I series against Zimbabwe, which will be his first opportunity to represent India at the international level.
