Harare: Ashok Sharma makes India T20I debut against Zimbabwe

By Arjun Nair / 23.07.2026

By Arjun Nair — 23 July 2026 — 3 min read

Pacer Ashok Sharma has made his debut for India in the opening match of the T20I series against Zimbabwe in Harare. The match, played on Thursday, saw India skipper Shreyas Iyer win the toss and elect to field first. This marks a significant moment for Sharma, who has risen through the ranks of domestic cricket.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) acknowledged Sharma’s debut, tweeting about the special occasion ahead of the series opener. Images of Sharma receiving his Team India cap were also shared, highlighting the pacer’s entry into international cricket.

Sharma’s Journey to International Cricket

Ashok Sharma, the son of a farmer, hails from Rampura near Jaipur. His cricketing journey began through district-level tournaments, where he honed his skills. His breakthrough season came in the 2025-26 domestic season, during which he showcased impressive form in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, taking 22 wickets in just 10 games. Beyond T20s, he has also secured 14 wickets in the Ranji Trophy.

Sharma’s talent also earned him a spot in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He made his IPL debut in the 2026 season, playing for Gujarat Titans. During his time with the franchise, he demonstrated his ability to bowl at high speeds, clocking over 100kmph. Notably, in a match against Rajasthan Royals, he delivered a ball at 154kmph to Dhruv Jurel, which was recorded as the fastest delivery ever in the IPL.

Ahead of the Zimbabwe ODIs, Sharma expressed his gratitude towards Gujarat Titans’ coach Ashish Nehra. Sharma regarded Nehra as a mentor, stating that he would approach him with any doubts or questions related to his bowling. He recounted Nehra’s assurance that he would always be available to help, even at midnight.

Sharma also mentioned that he would frequently visit Nehra’s room after matches to review videos of his bowling. During these sessions, he would seek advice on how to improve and what aspects of his game needed further refinement. He credited Nehra for teaching him a great deal during the IPL season and for providing significant assistance in his development as one of India’s fastest bowlers. Sharma represents Rajasthan in domestic cricket.

Team Line-ups and Other Developments

In addition to Ashok Sharma’s debut, teen sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi was also named in the playing eleven for India. This match also marked a new development for India, as concussion substitutes were named for specific positions for the first time. These included Suryansh Shedge (Batter, All-rounder), Prabhsimran Singh (wicketkeeper), Harsh Dubey (spinner), and Yash Thakur (pace bowler).

The Zimbabwe squad faced a setback with batter Milton Shumba being ruled out of the T20I series due to a right hamstring injury. Innocent Kaia was named as his replacement for the series.

The teams for the first T20I were announced as follows:

• India: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan(w), Shreyas Iyer(c), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Ravi Bishnoi, Prince Yadav, Ashok Sharma, Mayank Yadav.
• Zimbabwe: Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Dion Myers, Sikandar Raza (capt), Ryan Burl, Wessly Madhevere, Tadiwanshe Marumani (wk), Brad Evans, Newman Nyamhuri, Richard Ngarava, Blessing Muzarabani.

The match in Harare on Thursday commenced the three-match T20I series between India and Zimbabwe.

Source: m.rediff.com