Nehra's Mentorship Fuels Rookie Pacer Ashok Sharma's Rise

Rookie pacer Ashok Sharma credits Ashish Nehra's mentorship for his development and readiness for the Zimbabwe T20I series. Learn about his inspirations and goals.

Rookie pacer Ashok Sharma credits Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra with significantly boosting his confidence and bowling prowess. Sharma, who played six IPL games for the Titans, described Nehra as a mentor who was always available to address his doubts and help refine his bowling.

Sharma, who clocked 154.2 kmph during an IPL match, is confident of performing well against Zimbabwe in the upcoming three-match T20I series, scheduled to begin on Thursday in Harare. His ultimate aspiration is to don the Indian jersey across all formats, with a particular focus on Test cricket.

He draws inspiration from legendary South African fast bowler Dale Steyn, emulating his aggression, intensity, and strategic approach to setting up batters. Sharma also highlighted the guidance received from experienced teammates Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Siraj during his IPL stint.

Ishant Sharma advised him to focus on consistently hitting the good length area to improve his wicket-taking ability, suggesting that his current four-wicket-haul-per-match record could increase significantly. Mohammed Siraj further assisted him during net sessions, offering specific technical adjustments.

Sharma intends to carry forward these learnings into his domestic performances for Rajasthan, aiming to convert his current success into greater achievements on the international stage. He is eager to make the most of his opportunity against Zimbabwe.

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