Gujarat Titans' Parthiv Patel Praises Ashok Sharma Ahead of IPL 2026 Match

Ahead of the IPL 2026 match against Mumbai Indians, Gujarat Titans' assistant coach Parthiv Patel has praised young pacer Ashok Sharma as an exciting talent. He highlighted Sharma's impressive speed and game awareness, noting his ability to adapt to match situations. Patel also defended the team's middle-order batsmen, explaining their limited opportunities due to the top order's dominance. He emphasized that evaluating players based on run totals alone is unfair, given the different roles and situations they face. This insight into the team's dynamics sets the stage for an intriguing match.

By Narendra Chaudhary Apr 19, 2026, 23:25 IST

Ashok Sharma: A Rising Star

Parthiv Patel, the assistant coach of Gujarat Titans (GT), has expressed high regard for young fast bowler Ashok Sharma, calling him an "exciting talent" as the team prepares for their IPL 2026 match against Mumbai Indians (MI) on Monday. During a press conference held prior to the match, Patel emphasized Sharma's impressive speed, consistency, and tactical understanding of the game, noting that the young player has already made a mark with his performances in domestic cricket. "Ashok Sharma is undoubtedly an exciting talent. We observed him during the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament here in Ahmedabad, and he possesses the ability to bowl consistently at speeds of 145 to 150 km/h, along with a variety of bowling techniques. He is indeed a clever bowler," Patel remarked.

Patel Supports GT's Middle Order

In addition, Patel defended the middle-order batsmen of GT, explaining that their limited opportunities stem from the top order's ability to dominate the crease and stabilize the innings in IPL 2026. Ahead of the match against Mumbai, he clarified that the batting roles are well-defined and drew comparisons to previous successful contributions from the middle order. "The top three batsmen are spending considerable time at the crease, which means the middle-order players aren't getting enough balls to face. Their roles are distinct. If you recall last year, Tewatia managed to score 10 runs off the last over against Delhi, hitting a six off a reversing ball from Mitchell Starc. He delivered when it mattered. Even Shahrukh played a crucial role against Kolkata Knight Riders recently," Patel noted.

He further emphasized that evaluating batsmen solely based on their run totals would be misleading due to the varying match situations they encounter. "Whatever deliveries they receive, they are fulfilling their roles effectively. Comparing runs between the top and middle order isn't a fair assessment for any team," he concluded.