The story began in the narrow hallway of their home, where Ashok Sharma would practice bowling at his older brother, Akshay. The intent was simple: to strike him with the ball. Achieving this meant bowling at high speed.
“I would hit him when he bowled fast,” Akshay recounts. “In retaliation, he started bowling quickly too, determined to hit me back. We never imagined he would develop such talent over time.”
During school cricket matches in Rampura, Ashok’s fast deliveries intimidated his peers, causing them to back away from the stumps—not in resignation, but in fear. “He had broken several ribs,” Akshay remembers. “I witnessed batsmen fleeing the crease.”
Such speed wasn’t taught; it was born from sibling rivalry. A younger brother aiming to strike back at his older sibling in their home corridor, which eventually led to a cricketing journey. This journey took Ashok from local cricket to clocking an impressive 154.2 km/h for the Gujarat Titans against the Rajasthan Royals in Ahmedabad—a velocity that commands attention and pulls viewers away from their phones.
Rampura is located 80 kilometers from Jaipur, where Nathulal Sharma worked as a farmer during the day and delivered newspapers at night, earning a modest monthly income of Rs 10,000. His wife prioritized their sons’ education, hoping they would secure stable government jobs—an approach considered safer and more traditional, one that does not rely on the uncertain path of athletic talent.
However, both Ashok and Akshay aspired to pursue cricket, but their family could only support one of them. “He couldn’t risk the futures of both his sons,” Akshay explains. “So, he asked me to choose who would join the cricket academy.”
Akshay made the decision for Ashok to pursue cricket, stepping aside so his younger brother could continue. Nathulal enrolled Ashok at the Aravali Cricket Academy in Jaipur, managed by former Rajasthan leg-spinner Vivek Yadav. Ashok endured a lengthy commute of over an hour each way from their village and eventually moved into the academy’s hostel to dedicate himself fully to the sport. In 2019, he secured a place on the Rajasthan Under-19 team.
However, the pandemic brought challenges, halting all cricket activities. The passing of Yadav, who succumbed to stomach cancer exacerbated by COVID, was another setback. The coach who had provided Ashok with foundational training was now gone.
During cricket’s hiatus, both brothers occasionally worked on the family farm. “He visited a few months ago, and I took him to the farm for wheat planting,” Akshay shares. “I coach cricket and manage my farm.”
When Ashok began competing in Under-19 matches, he requested his father to cease his nighttime newspaper deliveries. Nathulal complied, as his son, who once faced complaints about his corridor bowling, was now earning enough to allow his father a break.
In 2022, the Kolkata Knight Riders signed Ashok, stirring conversations in the village. Some deemed it a stroke of luck. When the Rajasthan Royals released him the following season, doubts resurfaced—many believed his cricketing journey would end there. They were unaware of the motivation that rejection ignited within him.
“He took the release from RR to heart and was determined to prove himself,” Akshay notes. “The fortunate turn was having Ashish Nehra as his coach. Being a former bowler himself, Nehra understands the mindset of a bowler.”
And then there’s the crucial insight into Ashok Sharma: “He operates like a computer. Just instruct him on where to bowl, and he will consistently hit that spot.”
Akshay comprehends the impact of speed in cricket and its limitations. He recognizes that every IPL season, new fast bowlers capture the public’s fascination—often to be forgotten by the next auction. Others like Mayank Yadav and Umraan Malik have surpassed the 150 km/h mark, but sustaining that success is the real challenge.
Recently, Akshay spoke to Ashok, offering pointed advice: “I told him that attention is on him now because of his performance. So, he needs to stay humble and keep working hard. The journey ahead is long. We’ve experienced times of obscurity; now that people are noticing us, I don’t want my brother to become just a fleeting sensation. He must strive to earn that blue jersey.”
The blue jersey represents the Indian national team—a goal that remains distant. Akshay expresses this without embellishment, having sacrificed his own cricket aspirations for his brother’s opportunity—he has the right to outline the journey ahead and its challenges.
In Rampura, Nathulal no longer drives at night, and Ashok has outgrown his corridor bowling days. The wheat fields continue to thrive, and the gossip from neighbors has quieted. Though the destination remains far off, the corridor led to unexpected possibilities.
With extensive experience covering Mumbai’s local cricket scene, Devendra Pandey brings a distinct perspective to his reporting.
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