IPL 2026 Auction: Gujarat Titans get Ashok Sharma, the fastest bowler in India's domestic circuit right now

Gujarat Titans have made a superb signing in Ashok Sharma who is touted to be the fastest bowler in India's domestic circuit right now

Gujarat Titans are known for their preference for Indian fast bowlers. After all, with Ashish Nehra as head coach, you don't expect anything different, do you? At the IPL 2026 Auction, GT roped in yet another prodigy from India's fast bowling department - Ashok Sharma. From a base price of Rs 30 lakh, the Titans snapped up the fast bowler for Rs 90 lakh, a fine bargain.

These are still early days in Sharma's career but he is touted to be the fastest bowler in India's domestic circuit. During the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy season, he clocked 150 kph and is comfortably bowling at terrifying speeds. Like most fast bowlers who operate at dangeroushly high speeds, Sharma's economy rate is high at 9.25 but he is a genuine wicket-taker. 

In just 10 T20 games, Sharma already has 22 scalps to his name and his bowling strike-rate of 10 tells you about the damage he can cause when on song. With the bat, Sharma isn't a mug either and can use the long handle to good effect. However, it is his pace bowling that is bound to get him through the system for higher honours.

Sharma's first interaction with the IPL was as a net bowler for Rajasthan Royals but it were the Kolkata Knight Riders who gave him the first contract in 2022. That deal was valued at Rs 55 lakh but the youngster couldn't play a game for the franchise during his stint. At the 2025 IPL mega auction, Sharma was picked up by the Rajasthan Royals for his base price of Rs 30 lakh.

Understandably, Sharma was among the released players ahead of the IPL 2026 Auction and with GT offering him a contract, he could be finally on course for a debut in the 2026 season. Nehra's guidance is going to be of immense help for the 23-year-old whose pace is undoubtedly his biggest asset.