Ahead of Rajasthan’s vital Ranji Trophy match against Mumbai, young pacer Ashok Sharma engaged in a crucial discussion with his coach, Anshu Jain.
With key bowlers Deepak Chahar and Khaleel Ahmed sidelined, Rajasthan’s pace attack relied heavily on the experienced Aniket Chaudhary and the relatively new Ashok, who had only made his Ranji debut against Jammu and Kashmir earlier in the season.
Jain’s advice to bowl ‘stump-to-stump’ proved invaluable. On Saturday, this precise strategy paid off handsomely as Ashok secured three pivotal wickets, dismissing top batsmen like Ajinkya Rahane, Sarfaraz Khan, and Siddhesh Lad. “Maintaining a proper line and length was key, and the coach’s guidance truly worked in our favor,” Ashok revealed in an interview.
Ashok’s impressive spell helped Rajasthan seize control after Mumbai’s formidable 100-run opening partnership between Yashasvi Jaiswal and Musheer Khan. While basking in the glow of his performance, an emotional Ashok took a moment to reflect on his elder brother Akshay’s incredible sacrifice, which ultimately allowed him to pursue his cricketing dreams.
He shared a deeply personal story: “My elder brother Akshay was a district-level player, but he gave up his career for me. Our father is a farmer, and when I was in tenth grade, he explained that they couldn’t afford to support both of our cricketing aspirations. Without hesitation, my brother stepped aside.” Ashok, who has also played in the IPL for Kolkata Knight Riders and Rajasthan Royals, truly understands the weight of that sacrifice.