'Don't Settle for India A': How Ashish Nehra and Pat Cummins Are Shaping Ashok Sharma's Rise

For a 24-year-old fast bowler knocking on the doors of the Indian dressing room, it is easy to get lost in the immediate glamour of franchise cricket. But for Rajasthan's pace sensation Ashok Sharma, the focus remains firmly grounded in red-ball realities. It has been a journey built on rejections and blunt reality checks.

Two specific interactions, separated by a couple of years and two different franchises, define Sharma's current mindset.

The Cummins Masterclass: Forging a Defining Weapon

The first major turning point came when Sharma was an unproven youngster warming the bench for the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in 2022. Surrounded by international stalwarts like Tim Southee, Shane Bond, and bowling coach Bharat Arun, Sharma sought out Australian captain Pat Cummins to ask what he needed to do to improve his game.

"I vividly remember a conversation I had with Pat Cummins back in 2022 when I was with KKR. I asked him what else I should do to improve, and he asked me, 'What is your strength?' When I told him that I can hit the hard length anytime and bowl in that area whenever needed, he told me to make that one thing so good that even if someone wakes me up in the middle of the night, I should be able to bowl it flawlessly. He reminded me that every great bowler needs one defining weapon, just like Jasprit Bumrah or Lasith Malinga are known for their yorkers," the Gujarat Titans bowlers said to Times of India.

Nehra's Reality Check: Aiming for 100 Tests

But raw pace without opportunity can be deeply frustrating. A massive hurdle arrived when his home franchise, the Rajasthan Royals, released him right in the middle of a Ranji Trophy campaign, just ahead of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Instead of letting the setback derail his season, Sharma used the rejection as fuel.

That impressive domestic run earned him a spot with the Gujarat Titans, where he encountered the second major influence on his career in Ashish Nehra.

Nehra, known for his no-nonsense approach, gave the youngster a harsh but necessary reality check at the end of the IPL season. The Titans head coach reminded Sharma that his current age represents the absolute prime window of his career. Nehra's directive was clear, do not be satisfied with just making the India A squad. He told Sharma to set his sights much higher and aim to play 100 Test matches for India.

"When the season ended with Gujarat Titans, Ashish Nehra sir gave me a reality check. He told me that my current age is the best age of my career, and if these two or three years slip away, nobody will ask about me. He told me not to just be satisfied with India A or things like that, but to set a goal of playing 100 Test matches for India. My career is just starting and that milestone is very far, but my dream is to play at least 60 to 70 Test matches for the country," he added.