TimesofIndia.com in Lucknow: A day after switching his domestic allegiance from Rajasthan to Gujarat, fast bowler Ashok Sharma has been included in the India A squad in Sri Lanka as an injury replacement. The 23-year-old replaces the injured Yudvir Singh.Ashok will fly to Colombo on Tuesday morning before joining the team in Dambulla, where the tri-series involving India A, Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A is being played. led by Tilak PharmaIndia A suffered a narrow defeat to the hosts on Monday and will now face Afghanistan A in a must-win encounter on June 17.Ashok caught attention during the Indian Premier League with his blazing pace. He took six wickets in as many matches and was highly rated by the management of Gujarat Titans, who signed him for 90 lakh in the auction.TimesofIndia.com understands that Ashok’s ability to bowl at 150kph while masking a slower 115kph delivery with the same action has particularly impressed Gujarat Titans captain Shubman Gill.The young speedster first came into the limelight with his fast speed. He broke the 11-year-old record in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and finished first in the tournament with 22 wickets.Ashok earned his first IPL contract in 2022 when Kolkata Knight Riders signed him for ₹55 lakh. He was later released and spent a season as a netminder with Rajasthan Royals. In the 2025 mega auction, Rajasthan Royals bought him at his base price of 30 lakh but released him again without giving him a game.Despite the setbacks, one thing has remained constant: the advice he received from Australian captain Pat Cummins during his time with the Kolkata Knight Riders.“I never thought about slowing down. I just wanted to maintain the pace and achieve the right lengths. In 2022, I spent a lot of time with Pat Cummins,” Ashok told TimesofIndia.com earlier this year. “I talked to him about height and what I could do better. He asked me a simple question: What is your strength?” Every bowler has one. Some swing it, others sew it. He asked me how strong I was. I told him I could hit a tough distance at good pace. He told me to stick to it. Whenever I practice, I remember his words. These voices still echo in my ears.”Ashok now has a chance to impress selectors with his speed and control in the India A preparation. There is still no proper road connecting his village of Rampura, located about 35 km from Jaipur, to the outside world. But the young fast bowler’s journey is heading in the right direction, and he is getting closer to his destination.
