Gujarat Titans' Parthiv Patel Praises Young Pacer Ashok Sharma Ahead of IPL Clash
Patel Highlights Ashok Sharma's Potential
Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], April 19: Parthiv Patel, the assistant coach of Gujarat Titans (GT), has expressed admiration for emerging fast bowler Ashok Sharma, calling him an "exciting talent" as the team prepares for their IPL 2026 match against the Mumbai Indians (MI) on Monday.
During a pre-match press briefing on Sunday, Patel emphasized Sharma's impressive speed, consistency, and game intelligence, noting that the young player has already made a mark with his performances in domestic cricket.
“Ashok Sharma is certainly an exciting prospect. We observed him during the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament here in Ahmedabad. He possesses pace and can consistently bowl at speeds of 145 to 150 km/h, along with a variety of deliveries, making him a clever bowler,” Patel remarked.
He also pointed out Sharma's maturity and understanding of the game, highlighting that the bowler is not solely focused on speed but adapts his approach based on the match context.
“He doesn’t just aim to bowl fast all the time. He comprehends the game well and reads situations effectively. We are fortunate to have a young talent who can consistently clock around 145 to 150 km/h,” he added.
Patel also defended the middle-order batsmen, explaining that their limited opportunities stem from the top order's ability to dominate the crease and stabilize the innings in IPL 2026.
As the team gears up for the match against Mumbai, Patel clarified that the batting roles are well-defined, drawing comparisons to previous instances where the middle order has delivered crucial performances.
“The top three batsmen are spending considerable time at the crease, which means the middle-order players aren’t getting enough chances. Their roles differ significantly. If you recall last year, when Tewatia scored 10 runs off the last over against Delhi, hitting a six off a reversing ball from Mitchell Starc, he executed his role perfectly. Similarly, Shahrukh also contributed effectively against Kolkata Knight Riders,” Patel noted.
He further emphasized that evaluating batsmen solely based on their run totals would be unjust, given the varying match situations they face.
“Whatever opportunities they get, they are fulfilling their roles. Comparing runs between the top and middle order isn’t fair for any team,” he concluded.